RATES
Inflation Keeps Financing Decisions Under Pressure
Core U.S. inflation came in hotter than expected in August, with prices excluding food and energy rising 0.3% from July. Overall annual CPI stayed at 3.4%, but the mix mattered: transport services, shelter, airline fares, gasoline and fuel oil all added pressure just ahead of the Federal Reserve's September meeting.
For executives, the signal is less about one monthly print than about capital timing. Higher-for-longer assumptions can change debt refinancing, pricing power, hiring plans and acquisition math. The market was already assigning a high probability to a Fed move, so even small inflation surprises now carry board-level consequences.
Source: CFO Dive · September 11, 2026