Hey friends - checking in from the west coast! I’m out in Silicon Valley for Tim Draper’s startup accelerator. We’ll be headed for a big outdoor excursion on his ranch this weekend. App users, there will be no new scoops on Monday, the 27th.

🌎 The Big Picture

It was another relatively slow news week with the government shutdown still dragging out, but the most important news of the week hit this morning with the inflation report.

Lower rent and mortgage costs and restarted student debt forgiveness gave Americans a bit of breathing room. But health insurance, energy, and gas prices are climbing, and incomes aren’t keeping up, especially for women and low earners.

The White House confirmed that the highly anticipated meeting between President Trump and Chinese President Xi will happen, calming nerves of worsening tensions between the world's two largest economies after weeks of trade policy escalation.

Also, the latest financial reports from America's biggest companies pointed to steady profits across industries for the third quarter.

The inflation report wasn’t too scary. Here’s what it means for you, your money, and your business:

This Consumer Price Index (CPI) report was so important that the Labor Dept pushed it out despite the government being shut down. It has already skipped several crucial reports on the job market, and this CPI report is more than a week late (they’re never late).

Why it’s important:

🔹 The Federal Reserve meets next week to decide if they should keep bringing down interest rates or not. Fast-rising prices will keep borrowing costs high.

🔹 Everyone’s watching to see how tariffs have impacted the cost of living

What happened in September:

🔹 The cost of living rose by 0.3% in September (a little fast, but not scary & slower than August)

🔹 Prices have risen by 3% over the past year (faster than ~2% ideal, but again, not scary, in line with most of the year)

🔹 Food kept getting more expensive, but didn’t jump as much as last month

🔹 Gas prices surged

🔹 Rent and home prices calmed down, little change

🔹 Travel, hotels, and airfares got a lot more expensive

🔹 Tariff-sensitive products mostly got more expensive, some a lot more

What it means for you:

🔹 The cost of living is still climbing, just not in a scary way

🔹 Products, especially anything imported, keep getting more expensive, quickly

🔹 No major surprises means the Fed will likely still cut interest rates next week

➡️ Savings accounts and bonds will earn less (worth considering locking in higher rates with things like CDs for cash needed in 3-12 mo)

➡️ Short-term borrowing costs come down (credit cards, leases, layaway, loans)

➡️ Uncertain future for mortgage costs (usually tied to the Fed, but not as much lately)

More to come next week.

Get the full breakdown of all the trends affecting your home, wallet, and career in the new Weekend Scoop on the Scoops app!

🏭 The Companies Everyone’s Talking About

Dig into more scoops and vote on company approval ratings in the Scoops app!

❔ The Big Question of the Week

Challenge your perspectives and learn from the community voting on the Scoops app!