US consumer prices rise 0.4% in October, with food and shelter costs higher

US consumer prices increased 0.4% in October from the previous month on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on November 10. The increase followed September's 0.6% rise. Prices were still moving higher, but the monthly pace was lower than in September; a slower increase does not mean prices fell.

Food prices rose 0.5% overall. The measure for groceries increased 0.4%, while food away from home rose 0.5%. Shelter costs increased 0.3% and accounted for more than 30% of the month's overall rise, showing how housing costs continued to contribute to household price pressure.

Energy prices increased 0.7%, compared with a 5.2% rise in September. Gasoline rose 1.0% and electricity 0.9% on the adjusted measures. Excluding food and energy, the consumer price index increased 0.3%, matching its monthly pace in August and September. Used cars and trucks were among the categories that became cheaper.

The agency could not publish October annual inflation changes for most series because the October 2025 comparison data were unavailable following a lapse in government funding. The 0.4% headline figure is therefore a monthly change, not an annual inflation rate. The release measures prices; it does not announce a Federal Reserve interest-rate decision or guarantee the outcome of a future meeting.