Absent CPI, Private US Inflation Data Show Tariff ‘Turbulence’

Private-sector measures suggest US inflation picked up in September, offering more evidence of tariffs boosting certain prices in the absence of official government metrics.

Prices for goods like household equipment and furniture rose firmly, pushing up annual inflation to the highest level in two years, according to PriceStats data that’s based on products sold by online retailers. Another metric from OpenBrand showed the strongest monthly price growth since June, driven by personal care products and communications devices.

While the September data showed a notable increase in some prices, particularly on imported merchandise, economists see inflation starting to abate somewhat next ...