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Consumer prices rise 3.7% over the year to September, Labor Department data show

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 28 outlets across the spectrum.

57 articles in total, 8 of them opinion. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

Shoppers walk past refrigerated grocery shelves stocked with juice, produce, and prepared foods in a supermarket.
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the Consumer Price Index rose 0.6% from August to September and 3.7% over the 12 months to September, up from 3.4% in August. Economists surveyed before the release had expected an annual rate of 3.6%. Outlets across the spectrum attribute much of the increase to higher gasoline and energy prices. Coverage from the center and left links the fuel price rise to the war with Iran. Outlets describe the report as the last consumer price release before the midterm elections. A GasBuddy analyst told CBS News that diesel prices are likely to set an all-time record in October.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. How this works

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

  1. Annual inflation rose to 3.7% in September, up from 3.4% in August.

    Across the spectrumReported byLeft3Center3Right2Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    CBS News, NBC News, The Atlantic
    Center
    Financial Times, The Hill, Straight Arrow News
    Right
    The Center Square, Washington Examiner
    Far Right
    The Daily Wire

  2. Consumer prices rose 0.6% in September from August, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

    Reported byCenter2Right1Far Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Center
    The Hill, Straight Arrow News
    Right
    The Center Square
    Far Right
    Just the News, The Daily Wire

  3. Higher gasoline and energy prices drove much of the increase.

    Reported byLeft4Center1Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    ABC News, CBS News, NBC News, The Atlantic
    Center
    Financial Times
    Far Right
    Just the News

  4. Coverage cites the war with Iran as a driver of the energy price rise.

    Reported byLeft2Center1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    NBC News, The Atlantic
    Center
    Financial Times

  5. The release was described as the last consumer price report before the midterm elections.

    Reported byLeft1Right1Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    ABC News
    Right
    Washington Examiner
    Far Right
    The Daily Wire

  6. Real wages were reported to have fallen back to about their level when Trump returned to office in January 2025.

    One outletThe Atlantic· Left

How each side tells it

Compare views

Every side reports that consumer prices rose 0.6% in September and 3.7% over a year. Left and center coverage ties the rise to the Iran war and fuel prices, while right coverage stresses the 3.7% figure and its timing before the midterms.

  • the left

    11 outlets · 5 opinion

    Left headlines tie the rise to fuel prices and the Iran war, and one opinion piece frames the report as bad news for Trump.

    Inflation Jumps Amid Rising Fuel Prices: How it Impacts Americans
    NBC NewsLeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    9 outlets

    Center headlines report the 3.7% annual rate in neutral terms, while the Financial Times links it to the Iran war and voter pressure before the midterms.

    Inflation rose to 3.7 percent in September: BLS
    The HillCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    8 outlets · 2 opinion

    Right headlines state the 3.7% annual rate and its timing before the midterms, and the Washington Examiner ties it to voter discontent with Trump, a link the left also draws.

    Inflation increased to 3.7% in last consumer price index report before midterm elections
    Washington ExaminerRightAll right-leaning headlines

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

  • Left18

    Brutaleconomic nightmaresoarsoaring prices

  • Center3

    worsenedfranticallypositive spin

  • Right5

    vanquishing the inflationplaying stupid gamesespecially nasty blowRoars Back With a Vengeance

In the outlets’ own words

  • Sensational language

    BrutalMore neutral: Affordability report

    Adds an emotional judgement about the report that the figures do not carry.

    Trump Dealt Crushing Blow by Brutal Affordability Report

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)MeidasTouch (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    economic nightmareMore neutral: economic setback

    The word nightmare adds dramatic judgement that the economic data itself does not state.

    Trump faces fresh economic nightmare as food and gas prices soar before midterms

    Used byThe Independent (Left)

  • Loaded verb

    soarMore neutral: rise

    The source describes a monthly rise of about 0.6%, which soar overstates.

    Trump faces fresh economic nightmare as food and gas prices soar before midterms

    Used byThe Independent (Left)

  • Sensational language

    soaring pricesMore neutral: higher prices

    The expected rise is 0.6% monthly and about 3.6% to 3.7% yearly, so “soaring” goes beyond the reported figures.

    Inflation report expected to show soaring prices and Pope Leo diagnosed with lung cancer: Morning Rundown

    Used byNBC News (Left)

Show 22 more phrasesShow fewer

  • Sensational language

    widespread angerMore neutral: widespread concern

    The same polls are described as dissatisfaction in the article's own excerpt, and anger overstates that finding.

    Final inflation report before midterms comes as polls show widespread anger over cost of living under Trump Republicans are entering the midterm elections…

    Used byThe Guardian (Left)

  • Sensational language

    ugly blowMore neutral: setback

    Describes the effect of the data on the president in emotive terms rather than stating it.

    …than expected in September, the latest data shows, delivering Donald Trump an ugly blow heading into the midterms.

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    Crushing blowMore neutral: Inflation report shows higher prices before midterms

    Turns a monthly inflation figure into a dramatic defeat for the president, which the data alone does not establish.

    Trump Dealt Crushing Blow by Brutal Affordability Report

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Loaded verb

    worsenedMore neutral: Inflation rises to 3.7% last month as midterm elections near

    Describes inflation as getting worse, a judgement the rise in the figures does not itself state.

    Inflation worsened last month to 3.7% as midterm elections near

    Used byPBS NewsHour (Center)

  • Sensational language

    onslaughtMore neutral: a series of price rises

    Dramatizes a series of price rises as an attack.

    Americans continue to weather an onslaught of soaring prices heading into the midterms

    Used byMeidasTouch (Far Left)

  • Vague attribution

    increasingly frustratedMore neutral: Cite the poll that measures public frustration

    Describes public sentiment without naming the poll or survey that measures it.

    Americans are increasingly frustrated with Trump's failure to bring down high prices.

    Used byCommon Dreams (Far Left)

  • Loaded verb

    Fails to Deliver ReliefMore neutral: Prices Surge as Costs Remain High Under Trump

    Presents the price rise as a failure by Trump, a judgement the report does not establish.

    Prices Surge as Trump Fails to Deliver Relief for Working Families

    Used byCommon Dreams (Far Left)

  • Loaded verb

    vanquishing the inflationMore neutral: to reduce the inflation

    Describes a campaign pledge in charged terms, implying a battle won or lost rather than a stated goal on inflation.

    …TAKE HOPE FROM FLAT TAX AUTHOR’S NOBEL PRIZE IN ECONOMICS Trump ran on vanquishing the inflation experienced under former President Joe Biden, who presided over the worst…

    Used byWashington Examiner (Right)

  • Loaded verb

    Sell Voters on Strong EconomyMore neutral: Trump’s Final Push on the Economy

    Treats the White House economic message as salesmanship and presents the economy as strong without attribution.

    Surging Inflation Complicates Trump’s Final Push to Sell Voters on Strong Economy

    Used byThe New York Times (Left)

  • Loaded modifier

    war of choiceMore neutral: war

    Asserts the war was unnecessary, a judgement the reporting does not establish.

    The rising cost of living spurred by President Donald Trump’s war of choice in Iran continues to wipe out wage increases for U.S.

    Used byHuffPost (Far Left)

  • Loaded modifier

    Trump’s War In IranMore neutral: The War In Iran

    Assigns the conflict to one person by name in the headline, pre-judging responsibility for the war and its costs.

    Trump’s War In Iran Is Eating Up Your Paycheck

    Used byHuffPost (Far Left)

  • Loaded verb

    playing stupid gamesMore neutral: disputing Trump's argument

    Calls the opposing argument stupid instead of describing it, which adds a judgement the facts do not carry.

    …that argument appears to have resonated, even with Democrats and the media playing stupid games with Trump's argument.

    Used byHot Air (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    especially nasty blowMore neutral: large increase

    Adds an emotional judgement about the effect of gasoline prices that the data does not carry.

    Gasoline prices, in particular, delivered an especially nasty blow to consumers' wallets last month, as anyone who's had to fill up their tank…

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    Roars Back With a VengeanceMore neutral: Inflation Rises Again

    Dramatizes a monthly rise of 0.6% as a dramatic return of inflation.

    Inflation Roars Back With a Vengeance As Gas Prices Hammer Americans Ahead of Midterms

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    Hammer AmericansMore neutral: Affect Americans

    Frames rising gas prices as an attack on people, adding drama beyond the price data.

    Inflation Roars Back With a Vengeance As Gas Prices Hammer Americans Ahead of Midterms

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    Wrecked the EconomyMore neutral: Hurt the Economy

    Asserts that policy caused severe harm to the whole economy, a conclusion beyond what the monthly inflation figures show.

    New Numbers Show Just How Badly Trump Wrecked the Economy

    Used byRolling Stone (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    franticallyMore neutral: trying

    Adds urgency and drama to a description of the administration’s messaging.

    With consumer sentiment already nearing a record low, the Trump administration is frantically trying to put a positive spin on the data — and discourage the central bank from…

    Used bySemafor (Center)

  • Loaded verb

    positive spinMore neutral: characterize the data positively

    Characterizes the administration’s description of the data as spin without quoting a statement.

    …nearing a record low, the Trump administration is frantically trying to put a positive spin on the data — and discourage the central bank from acting.

    Used bySemafor (Center)

  • Partisan shorthand

    pro-inflation agendaMore neutral: economic agenda

    Names the agenda by an effect critics attribute to it, and the article gives no evidence of intent.

    In retrospect, launching a pro-inflation agenda was a bold call.

    Used bySlate (Far Left)

  • Loaded modifier

    Original SinMore neutral: Trump's economic agenda

    Frames Trump's presidency in moral terms that the inflation data does not establish.

    The Original Sin of Trump’s Presidency Is Coming Back to Bite Him

    Used bySlate (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    aren’t looking goodMore neutral: and the figures show a 3.7% annual rise

    The phrase gives the writer’s judgement of the figures rather than describing them.

    …major checkup on inflation ahead of the midterm elections, and the results aren’t looking good.

    Used byThe Atlantic (Left)

  • Sensational language

    Doesn’t Look Good for TrumpMore neutral: Latest Inflation Report Shows Annual Rate at 3.7%

    The headline turns a data release into a verdict on the president’s standing, which the figures alone do not establish.

    America’s Latest Inflation Check-In Doesn’t Look Good for Trump

    Used byThe Atlantic (Left)

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

11 outlets · 5 opinion

Leads with

  • fuel and diesel prices
  • Iran war as cause
  • effect on Trump and midterms
See the 18 headlines from the leftHide the headlines

From the center

9 outlets

Leads with

  • annual rate of 3.7%
  • fuel costs and Iran war
  • timing before midterms
See the 10 headlines from the centerHide the headlines

From the right

8 outlets · 2 opinion

Leads with

  • 3.7% annual rate
  • midterm timing
  • voter discontent with Trump and GOP

Leaves out

  • Iran war as a driver of fuel prices, named in center and left coverage

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 10 headlines from the rightHide the headlines

Articles you open from here build My Mix, a private picture of how your reading spreads across the spectrum, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

Who reported it when

How the coverage built up

  • Left

    12 hr 17 min later

    Its first report, Oct 14, 2:22 AM EDT

  • Center

    First to report

    CNBC, Oct 13, 2:05 PM EDT

  • Right

    13 hr 50 min later

    Its first report, Oct 14, 3:55 AM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. CNBCCenterOct 13, 2:05 PM EDT
  2. ABC NewsLeftOct 14, 2:22 AM EDT
  3. The Daily WireFar RightOct 14, 3:55 AM EDT
  4. The IndependentLeftOct 14, 5:45 AM EDT
  5. NBC NewsLeftOct 14, 7:01 AM EDT
  6. The Center SquareRightOct 14, 8:21 AM EDT
  7. Washington ExaminerRightOct 14, 8:33 AM EDT
  8. CBS NewsLeftOct 14, 8:34 AM EDT
  9. The Washington PostLeftOct 14, 8:35 AM EDT
  10. The GuardianLeftOct 14, 8:36 AM EDT
  11. Breitbart NewsFar RightOct 14, 8:37 AM EDT
  12. Financial TimesCenterOct 14, 8:37 AM EDT
  13. The HillCenterOct 14, 8:38 AM EDT
  14. The Washington TimesRightOct 14, 8:47 AM EDT
  15. New York PostRightOct 14, 8:48 AM EDT
  16. Straight Arrow NewsCenterOct 14, 8:57 AM EDT
  17. BloombergLeftOct 14, 8:59 AM EDT
  18. The Daily BeastFar LeftOct 14, 9:04 AM EDT
  19. BBC NewsCenterOct 14, 9:14 AM EDT
  20. PBS NewsHourCenterOct 14, 9:37 AM EDT
  21. The Daily CallerFar RightOct 14, 10:32 AM EDT
  22. The New York TimesLeftOct 14, 10:40 AM EDT
  23. HuffPostFar LeftOct 14, 11:14 AM EDT
  24. Al Jazeera EnglishLeftOct 14, 11:31 AM EDT
  25. MarketWatchCenterOct 14, 12:07 PM EDT
  26. SemaforCenterOct 14, 3:54 PM EDT
  27. France 24CenterOct 15, 11:05 AM EDT

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out. Just the News gave only a date, so it is not placed.

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