Annual inflation ticked up for a third straight month in December as food, energy costs rose, CPI report showed. But underlying price measure eased.

Inflation is proving stickier than expected, which could cause Fed to hit pause button on more interest rate cuts.

Wednesday’s report from the Labor Department showed that the consumer price index rose 2.9 percent in December from a year ago, the highest since July, up from 2.7 percent in November. It was the third straight increase after inflation fell to a 3 1/2 year low of 2.4 percent in September.

The consumer price index increased a seasonally adjusted 0.4% on the month, putting the 12-month inflation rate at 2.9%. The annual number was in line with forecasts. Core CPI annual rate was 3.2%, a notch down from the month before and slightly better than the 3.

Consumer Price Index showed an acceleration to 2.9%, the highest rate since July. With such high inflation, the Fed is unlikely to cut rates in January.

The path of inflation proved bumpier than expected in December, with price growth picking up more than economists had forecast. The consumer price index climbed 2.9% year over year in December, according to data released Wednesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Israel's inflation eased more than expected in December to end 2024 at a rate of 3.2% versus 3.0% in 2023, according to data on Wednesday from the Central Bureau of Statistics that could entice policymakers to start reducing interest rates soon.

The closely scrutinized monthly consumer-price index is due at 8:30 a.m. ET. Here are some key points to know ahead of the report: Economists expect annual inflation to come in at 2.9% as of December,

The Consumer Price Index ticked up by 0.4% in December, but a measure that excludes food and energy prices slowed for the first time in four months, the Labor Department said on Wednesday. Why it matters: Inflation resumed a cooling trend after a months-long interruption,

Analysis of CPI inflation data shows mixed results for December 2024, impacting Fed rate decisions and stock market performance in 2025. Read our full outlook on Seeking Alpha.