The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is set to release the September Consumer Price Index (CPI) report on Friday, offering a crucial glimpse into inflation trends amid a prolonged government shutdown. This report will fill a nearly 20-day gap in economic data and is essential for calculating the 2026 cost-of-living adjustments for Social Security. Economists anticipate a 0.4% increase in consumer prices for September, raising the annual inflation rate to 3.1%, the highest in over a year. Key drivers of this inflation include rising food and energy costs, alongside slower declines in service-sector inflation. Food prices have surged 24% from 2020 to 2024, with grocery prices experiencing a 0.6% increase in August, marking the largest monthly rise in three years. Analysts caution that persistent inflation in services and utilities is exacerbating economic disparities, particularly affecting middle- and low-income households.