Higher shelter and food expenses made up much of the 0.4% rise in U.S. consumer prices for October, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The monthly inflation rate slowed from September, when prices had jumped 0.6% after energy costs spiked. The Bureau of Labor Statistics stated that it could not collect data for October 2025 because of the federal government shutdown, which limited the agency's ability to release some economic indicators during that time. This disruption affected several statistical programs, including the Consumer Price Index and Consumer Expenditure Surveys, as detailed by the BLS in its Employment Situation News Release.
Energy prices increased 0.7% in October, a sharp drop from the 5.2% jump seen the month before. This smaller rise in energy helped slow the overall pace of inflation, even as other categories continued to post gains.
Key Categories See Continued Increases
Shelter costs, covering rent and other housing expenses, went up 0.3% in October. Food prices rose 0.5% after staying flat in September. Grocery prices increased 0.4%, with most major grocery categories showing higher prices. Prices for food away from home, such as restaurant meals, also rose 0.5%.
Core consumer prices, which leave out food and energy, rose 0.3% in October. This matched the increases reported in August and September. The Bureau of Labor Statistics pointed out that prices climbed in several categories, including recreation and medical care, as well as motor vehicle insurance, household furnishings and operations, and education.
Inflation Data and Reporting Limitations
The Bureau of Labor Statistics did not publish a year-over-year change in the Consumer Price Index for October. The agency explained that the federal government shutdown prevented it from collecting the data needed for the October 2025 comparison. According to the BLS, the 2025 lapse in federal appropriations affected the CPI and the Consumer Expenditure Surveys, with the Census Bureau unable to gather survey data for October and November 2025. The Census Bureau resumed collecting Consumer Expenditure Survey data on December 5, 2025, after the shutdown interruption. The BLS used a "weight adjustment approach" to address missing expenditure-survey observations, showing the broader impact of the shutdown on federal economic data collection and reporting. For more information, see the Consumer Expenditures in the South Region - 2025 report.
No regulatory decision, court ruling, or Federal Reserve action was identified as the reason for the October price changes. The disruption stemmed from administrative and data-collection issues caused by the federal appropriations lapse, which led to later statistical adjustments in subsequent releases.
For further background, see the original coverage at Connect Money.
