Food, energy and shelter costs rose in October, while missing 2025 data leave a gap in annual comparisons.
By Dawn Michelle Laguerre | Mohawk Valley Voice | November 11, 2026
U.S. consumer prices rose 0.4% in October, with higher food, energy and shelter costs adding to household expenses, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday. The monthly increase was smaller than September’s 0.6% rise, but it still meant prices moved higher overall.
The figures are seasonally adjusted national averages. They do not measure the exact change in prices in Utica or any one Mohawk Valley household’s bills.
The report also carries an unusual warning: most year-over-year comparisons are unavailable. BLS did not collect survey data in October 2025 during a lapse in appropriations. Without those earlier index values, it cannot calculate the corresponding October 2026 annual changes.
What changed in the grocery basket
The food index rose 0.5% in October after no change in September. Grocery prices, measured by the food-at-home index, increased 0.4%. Food away from home increased 0.5%.
Four of the six major grocery groups rose, one fell and one was unchanged. Fruits and vegetables increased 0.6%, as did dairy and related products. The group covering meat, poultry, fish and eggs rose 0.5%, including a 0.9% increase in beef.
Nonalcoholic beverages fell 0.3%, while cereals and bakery products were unchanged. Those differences help explain why one shopper’s receipt can look different from the national average. A household’s spending depends on which goods it buys, how much it buys and where it shops.
For meals outside the home, full-service meals rose 0.7% and limited-service meals rose 0.4%, according to BLS.
Energy prices rose, but less sharply
The energy index increased 0.7%, following a 5.2% rise in September. Gasoline rose 1.0% after seasonal adjustment, compared with a 9.1% increase the month before. Electricity rose 0.9%, while piped natural gas fell 0.8%.
Gasoline also shows why the adjustment matters. Before seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices fell 0.7% in October. The adjusted figure accounts for patterns that normally occur at that time of year. It is used to help compare short-term economic trends; it does not mean every driver paid more at the pump.
For Mohawk Valley readers, these national measures provide context for household budgeting. They do not establish a local gasoline price, utility rate or heating bill. Actual bills also depend on usage and the terms of the service.
Shelter remained a major contributor
Shelter costs rose 0.3% and accounted for more than 30% of the overall monthly increase, BLS said. Rent rose 0.2%, while owners’ equivalent rent rose 0.3%. The broader shelter measure had increased 0.4% in September.
The index excluding food and energy, often called core CPI, rose 0.3% for a third straight month. Recreation increased 0.8%, motor vehicle insurance rose 0.7% and medical care rose 0.3%.
Used cars and trucks were an exception, falling 1.2% after a 0.7% rise in September. New vehicle prices increased 0.2%. The communication index fell 0.1%.
Why there is no standard annual headline
A monthly increase and a year-over-year increase answer different questions. October’s 0.4% figure compares the overall index with September after seasonal adjustment. An annual comparison would compare October 2026 with October 2025.
The missing October 2025 survey data prevent BLS from publishing most of those annual comparisons. That gap should not be read as zero inflation, and a monthly rate should not be substituted for a missing annual figure. Some series have annual figures available, but that does not supply the missing comparison for the overall index.
BLS explains the missing-data issue in the October CPI release and its tables. Readers comparing reports should check whether a figure is monthly or annual and whether it has been seasonally adjusted.
What to watch next
The November CPI report is scheduled for December 10 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern. Until then, October’s report offers a mixed picture: the overall monthly increase slowed, groceries rose after a September decline, and shelter continued to contribute heavily to the total.
Readers can review the figures, definitions and limits in the full BLS release. For related state financial coverage, see New York budget officials’ latest revenue and risk outlook.
Featured image: AI-generated conceptual illustration by Mohawk Valley Voice using Ideogram. It does not depict a real purchase or local price survey.