Inflation eased its grip on the American consumer in November, with prices rising 2.7% from a year earlier, the Labor Department said in a Dec. 18 report. The annual inflation rate had crept as high as 3% in September. The slightly lower rate for November reflected smaller price increases for gasoline and new vehicles, among other items. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy items and is watched closely by the Federal Reserve, came in at 2.6% in November – the lowest rate since 2021. ...