Inflation was a bit hotter than expected in September, with monthly gains fueled primarily by housing, food and medical care, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said Thursday.Inflation measures how quickly the prices consumers pay for a broad range of goods and services are rising.The consumer price index, a key inflation barometer, jumped by 8.2% in September relative to a year earlier. Economists had expected an 8.1% annual increase. Basically, a basket of goods that cost $100 a year ago cost $108.20 today.The positive news: September’s annual increase was smaller than the 8.3% rise in August. The bad: Inflation is still high across many consumer categories, said Yiming Ma, an assistant professor of business at Columbia University.More from Personal Finance:How to make inflation-protected bonds work in your portfolioWhat to look for in your credit report to lower borrowing costsThese colleges promise no student loans”On paper, [inflation] has come …
