The BLS reported on September 11, 2026 that August consumer prices rose 0.4% after a 0.1% July increase, with core prices also accelerating. Real hourly earnings fell 0.3% over the past year and have been flat or falling for about five straight months. The discussion has since moved to the earnings side: average weekly and hourly earnings fell about 0.5% month over month and are down from last year, deepening the question of how far businesses can pass costs through without losing market share.