The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday that the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.4% seasonally adjusted in August after +0.1% in July. Over the 12 months ending August, the all-items index increased 3.4% before seasonal adjustment, matching the 12-month pace ending July.
Core CPI (all items less food and energy) rose 0.3% in August after +0.2% in July. On a 12-month basis, core CPI rose 2.4%, down from 2.5% for the 12 months ending July. FXStreet and CoinDesk noted the core monthly print was above the 0.2% consensus; headline 3.4% YoY was in line with expectations.
BLS said the gasoline index rose 3.9% in August and accounted for over one third of the monthly all-items increase. Energy rose 2.1% on the month and 16.3% over 12 months. Shelter rose 0.3% in August after +0.1% in July. Food rose 0.1% on the month and 2.7% over the year.
The release lands days before the Federal Reserve’s September 15–16 FOMC meeting. FXStreet, citing CME FedWatch around the report window, put roughly a 70% chance of a 25 bp rate increase at that meeting; CoinDesk live coverage cited FedWatch near 69% into the print (up from 59% a week earlier in that piece). Outlet figures differed through the session; this note does not treat any single odds print as final.
Crypto coverage described a brief bitcoin dip after the print, then a rebound. CoinDesk live updates said BTC fell to about $76,700 in the minutes after the data, then traded near $77,400 shortly after. Cointelegraph and Decrypt also reported an initial drop followed by a bounce in the same session; live prices move and are not restated here beyond those source snapshots.
What would falsify a “hot core seals a September hike” reading: a clear Fed communication that August core MoM is temporary (for example BofA commentary cited by CoinDesk that some August core drivers may unwind), or FedWatch odds collapsing before the decision if markets reprice a hold. Headline YoY held at 3.4%; core YoY slowed to 2.4%. Gasoline and energy drove much of the monthly headline lift.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (USDL-26-1496); FXStreet; CoinDesk