For the third straight month, workers' paychecks did not keep pace with rising prices, the Labor Department's final inflation report ahead of the midterm elections revealed.
U.S. consumer prices rose 0.6% from the month before in September, above forecasters' expectations. Over the year, prices for all items were up 3.7%, surpassing August's 3.4% pace. In comparison, average hourly earnings for employees on private, nonfarm payrolls increased 3% over the year last month.