Consumer prices rose at annual rate of 2.9% in August, as weekly jobless claims jump

Published

1 day ago

September 11, 2025

Vegetables on display in a grocery store on August 15, 2025 in Delray Beach, Florida.

Joe Raedle | Getty Images

Prices consumers pay for a variety of goods and services moved higher than expected in August while jobless claims accelerated, providing challenging economic signals for the Federal Reserve before its meeting next week.

The consumer price index posted a seasonally adjusted 0.4% increase for the month, double the prior month, putting the annual inflation rate at 2.9%, up 0.2 percentage point from the prior month and the highest reading since January. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been looking for respective readings of 0.3% and 2.9%.

For the vital core reading that excludes food and energy, the August gain was 0.3%, putting the 12-month figure at 3.1%, both as forecast. Fed officials consider core to be a better gauge of long-run trends. The central bank’s inflation target is 2%.

On employment, the Labor Department reported a surprise increase in weekly unemployment compensation filings to a seasonally adjusted 263,000 for the week ending Sept. 6, higher than the 235,000 estimate and up 27,000 from the prior period.

The reports provide the final pieces of a complicated data puzzle that central bankers will review at their two-day policy meeting that concludes Sept. 17.

The closely watched CPI reading saw its biggest gain from a 0.4% increase in shelter costs, which account for about one-third of the weighting in the index. Food prices jumped 0.5% while energy was up 0.7% as gasoline rose 1.9%.

Market pricing indicates a 100% certainty that the Fed will lower its benchmark interest rate, currently targeted between 4.25%-4.5%. However, there has been a slight implied chance that the Fed might choose to deviate from its usual quarter percentage point move and cut by half a point considering weakness in the labor market this year and subdued inflation readings.

Fed officials have been watching the inflation data closely for clues on the impact from President Donald Trump’s tariffs. There has been some visible pass-through from the duties, though inflation figures have been relatively well-behaved. The BLS reported Wednesday that producer prices actually declined 0.1% in August.

Tariff-sensitive vehicle prices saw monthly increases, with new vehicles up 0.3%. Used cars and trucks, which are generally not influenced by tariffs, rose 1%.

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Chiefs are home underdogs for only the second time with Patrick Mahomes

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1 hour ago

September 12, 2025

Michael David Smith

Patrick Mahomes has started 68 home games in Kansas City. He’s only been an underdog once.

This week will make it twice, as the Chiefs are 1.5-point underdogs at home against the Eagles on Sunday.

The Chiefs have been the best team in the NFL over the course of Mahomes’ tenure as their starting quarterback, so getting points to bet on them at home is a rare opportunity. But the only other time bettors had that opportunity, it was a losing bet: The Chiefs were 2.5-point underdogs at home against the Bills in Week Six of 2022, and the Bills beat the Chiefs 24-20 in that game.

The Eagles blew out the Chiefs in the Super Bowl last season and won in Week One, while the Chiefs lost their opener, so it’s no surprise that the Eagles are the favorites. If they can’t pull off an upset, the Chiefs will be 0-2 for the first time with Mahomes as their starter.

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All of the iPhone 17 models compared

Published

2 hours ago

September 12, 2025

Aisha Malik

Apple on Tuesday announced its iPhone 17 lineup, which consists of the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. All four of the devices will be available to preorder on Friday and will be available on September 19.

iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air

Differential specs

Display:
- iPhone 17: 6.3″ Super Retina XDR display
- iPhone 17 Air: 6.5″ Super Retina XDR display
Size (L x W x H) and weight:
- iPhone 17: 5.89 in. (149.6 mm) x 2.81 in. (71.5 mm) x 0.31 in. (7.95 mm); 6.24 oz (177 grams)
- iPhone 17 Air: 6.15 in. (156.2 mm) x 2.94 in. (74.7 mm) x 0.22 in. (5.64 mm); 5.82 oz (165 grams)
Processor:
- iPhone 17: A19 chip
- iPhone 17 Air: A19 Pro chip
Rear camera:
- iPhone 17: 48 MP Fusion Main, 48 MP Fusion Ultra Wide with .5x, 1x, 2x optical zoom options
- iPhone 17 Air: 48 MP Fusion Main with 1x, 2x optical zoom options
Battery capacity:
- iPhone 17: 3,692 mAh
- iPhone 17 Air: 3,149 mAh
Resolution:
- iPhone 17: 2,622 by 1,206 pixels (460 ppi)
- iPhone 17 Air: 2,736 by 1,260 pixels (460 ppi)
Colors:
- iPhone 17: black, lavender, mist blue, sage, and white
- iPhone 17 Air: sky blue, light gold, cloud white, space black

Common specs

Front camera: 18 MP Center Stage front camera with dual capture
Charging: USB-C with support for USB 2

The iPhone will start at $799; the iPhone 17 Air starts at $999.

iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max

Differential specs

Display:
- iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3″ Super Retina XDR display
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9″ Super Retina XDR display
Size (L x W x H) and weight:
- iPhone 17 Pro: 5.91 in. (150 mm) x 2.83 in. (71.9 mm) x 0.34 in. (8.75 mm); 7.27 oz (206 grams)
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.43 in. (163.4 mm) x 3.07 in. (78.0 mm) x 0.34 in. (8.75 mm); 8.22 oz (233 grams)
Battery capacity:
- iPhone 17 Pro: 4,262 mAh
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: 5,088 mAh
Resolution:
- iPhone 17 Pro: 2,622 by 1,206 pixels (460 ppi)
- iPhone 17 Pro Max: 2,868 by 1,320 pixels (460 ppi)

Common specs

Processor: A19 Pro chip
Rear camera: 48 MP Fusion Main (ƒ/1.78 aperture), 48 MP Fusion Ultra Wide (ƒ/2.2 aperture), 48 MP Fusion Telephoto (ƒ/2.8 aperture) with .5x, 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x optical zoom options
Front camera: 18 MP Center Stage front camera, dual capture video
Charging: USB-C with USB 3 support
Colors: deep blue, cosmic orange, and silver

The iPhone 17 Pro starts at $1,099, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max starts at $1,199.

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U.S. Secret Service puts agent on leave who wrote negative Facebook post about Charlie Kirk, official says

Published

2 hours ago

September 12, 2025

The Editors

The U.S. Secret Service put on leave an agent who expressed negative opinions on social media about slain conservative influencer Charlie Kirk and revoked his security clearance, two U.S. officials said.

Anthony Pough wrote in a Facebook post Wednesday that Kirk had “spewed hate and racism on his show … at the end of the day, you answer to GOD, and speak things into existence. You can only circumvent karma, she doesnt leave.”

In a memo to staff that was shared with CBS News, Secret Service Director Sean Curran said politically motivated attacks in the United States are on the rise, and staff shouldn’t exacerbate the problem.

“Let me be clear, politically motivated attacks in our nation are increasing — seemingly every day,” Curran wrote. “The men and women of the Secret Service must be focused on being the solution, not adding to the problem.”

Real Clear Politics first reported on Pough’s social media post on Kirk. Pough has not yet responded to a request for comment.

A U.S. Secret Service spokesperson said in a statement, “The U.S. Secret Service will not tolerate behavior that violates our code of conduct. This employee was immediately put on administrative leave, and an investigation has begun.”

Curran’s memo, sent Thursday night and addressed to “the Men and Women of the Secret Service,” said he was reminding employees “we swear an oath to those we protect to conduct ourselves with the highest standards of conduct on and off duty.”

“When our actions draw public attention for the wrong reasons, we fall short of that duty and compromise the trust essential to fulfill our mission,” Curran continued.

He concluded, “We must operate every day without bias towards political affiliation. We owe it to ourselves and those we are sworn to protect. Any distractions, otherwise, will not be tolerated.”

Jennifer Jacobs

Jennifer Jacobs is a senior White House reporter at CBS News.

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