In August, consumer prices in the U.S. surged, mainly due to increasing gasoline prices. This trend elevates the likelihood of an interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve, with economists predicting a monthly rise in the consumer price index of 0.4%. When excluding food and energy, the core consumer price index saw a 0.3% rise, leading to a market expectation of a 70% chance for a 25-basis-point hike.