The Case of the Calm Number

Inspector Hale: headline inflation 3.7%, core 2.6%. Wren: core? The Ledger: core drops food and energy, the volatile parts; 2.6% against a 2.5% forecast, barely a tremor. Wren: so the gap is gasoline and groceries. Nightjar: the gap is food and energy. Wren: core is calm; the gas pump isn't.

Strip out food and energy and September's prices were up 2.6% on the year, a tenth above the 2.5% forecast but far below the 3.7% headline: the gap between the two numbers is food and energy, and gasoline led the rise.

Starring

Inspector HaleWrenThe LedgerNightjar