A key inflation indicator released by the US Department of Commerce on Friday showed that the September inflation rate was lower than expected. This report, which was delayed due to the government shutdown, gave the Federal Reserve a further green light to cut interest rates. Federal Reserve officials use the PCE price index as the main policy tool to measure inflation. Although officials will look at both overall and core data, they generally believe that core data is a better measure of long-term inflation trends. The report was delayed for weeks due to the government shutdown, during which all data collection and economic reports were suspended.

A key inflation indicator released by the US Department of Commerce on Friday showed that the September inflation rate was lower than expected. This report, which was delayed due to the government shutdown, gave the Federal Reserve a further green light to cut interest rates. Federal Reserve officials use the PCE price index as the main policy tool to measure inflation. Although officials will look at both overall and core data, they generally believe that core data is a better measure of long-term inflation trends. The report was delayed for weeks due to the government shutdown, during which all data collection and economic reports were suspended.