(FILES) People shop for groceries at a supermarket in Manhattan on August 25, 2026 in New York City. US consumer inflation climbed more than anticipated in September, government data showed October 14, 2026, as the US war with Iran pushed energy costs higher, deepening strains on American households ahead of next month's midterm elections. The consumer price index (CPI) was slightly hotter than analysts expected, rising to 3.7 percent on a year-on-year basis, said the Department of Labor. This was an acceleration from 3.4 percent in August. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP via Getty Images)