Consumer Prices Rise 0.4% in October as Shelter, Food Costs Climb

U.S. consumer prices rose 0.4% in October on a seasonally adjusted basis, slowing from a 0.6% increase in September as energy prices climbed at a much slower pace, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Food prices picked up, while shelter accounted for more than 30% of the overall monthly increase. 

Core consumer prices, which exclude food and energy, rose 0.3%, matching the increases in August and September. Prices rose across several categories, including recreation, medical care, motor vehicle insurance, household furnishings and operations, and education. 

Energy prices increased 0.7% after jumping 5.2% in September. The smaller gain helped bring down the overall monthly inflation rate even as prices continued to rise. Shelter costs increased 0.3% in October. 

Food prices rose 0.5% after holding steady in September. Grocery prices increased 0.4%, with four of the six major grocery categories posting gains and one declining. Prices for food away from home, which includes restaurant meals, rose 0.5%. 

The BLS did not report a year-over-year change in the Consumer Price Index for October because the federal government shutdown prevented it from collecting the data needed for the October 2025 comparison.