The Globe and Mail reports in its Saturday edition that U.S. inflation stayed high last month with rising gas prices and stabilizing rent costs, reflecting a mixed consumer expense outlook amid steady growth but slow hiring. An Associated Press dispatch to The Globe reports that consumer prices rose 3 per cent in September from a year earlier, the highest since January and up from 2.9 per cent in August. Core prices, excluding food and energy, also increased 3 per cent, down from 3.1 per cent the previous month. In September, monthly price increases slowed to 0.3 per cent, down from 0.4 per cent in August, while core inflation decreased to 0.2 per cent from 0.3 per cent. Inflation is rising more slowly than expected since President Donald Trump imposed tariffs in April. Some tariffs were reduced in trade deals. Many companies have only passed on part of the costs to consumers to avoid lowering sales. Businesses may increase costs for consumers if the tariffs seem permanent. The smaller increase offers some relief to Federal Reserve officials, who plan to cut interest rates for the second time this year. However, inflation remains above the Fed's 2-per-cent target, highlighting the high stakes of their decisions.