Why Prices Jumped in September

If filling up the car felt pricier last month, you weren't imagining it. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says prices for everyday goods and services rose 3.7 percent over the past year, up from 3.4 percent the month before. That measure is called the Consumer Price Index, a giant shopping basket the government prices every month. The big driver this time was gasoline. Gas prices jumped about nine percent in September alone, and that one item made up more than half of the whole increase. Over the year, gas is up about a third. There was some good news at the grocery store: food prices overall didn't change in September, and milk and beef actually got cheaper. Leave out gas and food, which bounce around a lot, and prices rose 2.6 percent over the year. Economists watch that number to see whether price increases are spreading.