November Inflation Eases

Inflation in November eased unexpectedly, with consumer prices rising 2.7 percent from the previous year, below the 3.1 percent forecast. The report’s data gaps, caused by the government shutdown that lasted until November 12, limited price collection and forced the Labor Department to use workarounds, making economists cautious about reading too much into the numbers. Core prices, which exclude volatile food and energy costs, increased 2.6 percent, also below expectations.