Cost of living has gone up 3.4% in the last year NPR | By Scott Horsley Published September 11, 2026 at 4:45 PM AKDT Facebook Email Listen • 2:26 A new report shows the cost of living in August was up 3.4% from a year ago. Investors think stubborn inflation makes it more likely that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates next week. Copyright 2026 NPR