Underlying US price pressures are seen advancing at a pace that backs apprehension among Federal Reserve officials to signal the all-clear in their inflation-fighting efforts. The consumer price index excluding food and fuel, a measure favored by economists as a better indicator of underlying inflation, is seen increasing 0.3% for a third month. Compared with October of last year, the core CPI is projected to rise 4.1%. That would match the annual advance in September and snap a six-month stretch of slowing price growth. While considerable progress has been made since hitting a multi-decade high a year ago, the pace ... (full story)