Fact-check · Oct 16, 2026 · Donald Trump
“Inflation report was a little bit hotter than expected”
TRUE
What the record shows
BLS September 2026 CPI report (released Oct 14, 2026): headline inflation 3.7% annually vs. 3.6% expected; core CPI 2.6% annually vs. 2.5% expected; monthly headline 0.6% vs. 0.6% expected; monthly core 0.3% vs. 0.2% expected.
The September 2026 inflation report came in hotter than expected on both headline and core measures, confirming the speaker's characterization.
This figure differs by region.
Sources
- CPI inflation report September 2026
- Consumer price index in the United States
- Personal consumption expenditures price index
- Inflation rose to 3.7% last month in last snapshot of consumer prices before the midterms
- September CPI report shows inflation accelerated to 3.7% as energy costs soared - CBS News
- Inflation Nowcasting
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