US inflation continues to rise, with official figures for September showing prices up 3.7% over the past 12 months. That is up from 3.4% in the 12 months to August, and higher than economists and analysts had forecast.
High energy prices are a major driver, with diesel prices at record highs and the cost of gasoline also rising. For many families the impact is immediate. One Tennessee primary school art teacher described working three jobs to support her family of four, while another American said he had expected falling interest rates to help him buy a home in 2026, but no longer thinks that is likely.
Source: BBC News, 14 October 2026