--
[Citigroup Predicts Core Inflation May Slightly Decline in September] Citigroup economists estimate that the month-on-month increase in core CPI for September will be 0.28%, lower than August's 0.35%. A slowdown in housing inflation is expected to ease pressure on service inflation, although tariffs may support goods prices. Citigroup believes that a weakening labor market and cooling housing prices have reduced the risk of persistent inflation, but a government shutdown could impact the data release schedule.