CNBC's Rick Santelli joins 'Squawk Box' to break down the August PCE inflation data.

The core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) inflation rate held steady at 2.9% year-over-year in August, in line with expectations and unchanged from the previous month. Monthly core PCE rose by 0.2%, which was slightly cooler than the prior month's 0.3% increase. Headline inflation was marginally higher than anticipated, with a 0.4% monthly rise, while personal spending grew by 0.6%, marking the strongest increase since March. 

Despite these figures, inflation remains persistent, showing little sign of significant cooling or acceleration. Market responses were subdued, with bond yields and equities showing minimal movement following the data release.

Core inflation rate held at 2.9% in August, as expected

Fed and how the Fed has underscored labor and here we go. The income spending and PCE numbers should be hitting the wires here These are August numbers some of the Fed's favorite inflation gauges And of course, I'll have to tap dance a bit as I don't see some of these numbers, but just as a preview We're expecting up three tenths on headline and here it comes comes in a smidge hotter up four tenths instead of up three tenths Exactly the same at least up to this point until I see revisions equals last month. So four tenths back-to-back How does that comp you have to go all the way to April of this year mid-year? Basically and find a higher number up eight tenths Also on the personal spending side the income is a little warmer. Not bad spending Well, it's a little warmer too by one tenth up six tenths of a percent a little better than half a percent Which is what we're expecting and with what was in the rearview mirror and up six tenths will be the best spending level since March When it was up seven tenths now if we account for inflation make an adjustment, let's call this real spending It's up three tenths of a percent still better than expected equals the rearview mirror to find a better real spending number You're going to March once again when it was up seven tenths Now let's get to the meat on the bone the PCE numbers on the month over a month up three tenths as Expected that is one tenth hotter than the rearview mirror three tenths Well, that would be the warmest since February when it was up four tenths in Jan and Feb We're the highest readings of the year both up four tenths. Now if we look at the year-over-year It's 2.7 as expected. Once again one tenth hotter than the 2.6 in the rearview mirror 2.7 equals it equals where we were in February Which was the high of the year to find a higher number you're going to March of 24 when it was 2.8 percent now, I think the most important numbers we look at core PCE month over month up two tenths Good news. Not only is that as expected? It's one tenth cooler than the rearview mirror Which was up three tenths and finally the most important number of all in my opinion Core PCE year-over-year up 2.9 percent same as we're expecting Same as last month and the high reading of the year was February when it was 2.95 percent if I had to look at this and summarize Here's what I would say is that if you're looking at is inflation and trying to dismiss it I think you have a hard time doing that. It isn't necessarily getting much warmer the thermometer, you know Vacillates a tenth here and there but the issue is stickiness So, how does that fit in the feds profile on their easing campaign? Listen, I can't speak for them but it is sticky and one of the Denominators of this has been sticky a while so any who are looking into the political spectrum to try to pin inflation or higher inflation on some of the Legislation or potential legislation. I think they'll have a tough time. It just seems to be stuck a bit Yields yields rehab really haven't moved all that much we're now at 416 in a 10-year and 416 would be roughly unchanged on the day up three on the week as we pointed out the Pre-opening equities seem to like it as they've enhanced some of their green just a smidge Becky back to you

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wore a QR code at the U.N. General Assembly linking to images of Hamas' Oct. 7 attack as Western nations move to recognize Palestine. Dozens of delegates walked out in protest.

New York

Middle East Conflict

Dozens of delegates walk out as Netanyahu speaks at U.N.

A court on Thursday (September 25) sentenced former French president Nicolas Sarkozy to five years in prison over a scheme for late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi to fund his 2007 presidential run.

Paris

Former French president Sarkozy sentenced to five years in prison

The U.S. Justice Department filed criminal charges against former FBI Director James Comey on Thursday (September 25), in a dramatic escalation of President Donald Trump's retribution campaign against his political enemies.

Washington

Former FBI chief James Comey charged

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday new tariffs set to take effect next Wednesday, including a 100% tariff on pharmaceutical drugs. There will also be tariffs on a broad range of imported goods, such as kitchen cabinets, some furniture and trucks.

Global Tariffs

U.S. to impose new tariffs on pharmaceuticals, some furniture, trucks

US President Donald Trump has hosted his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House. The two leaders discussed Türkiye's long-disputed F-35 fighter jets, trade and energy ties as well as regional matters.

Istanbul

Trump hosts Erdogan as U.S. considers lifting ban on F-35 sales

Danish officials say a series of drone incursions they’re calling hybrid attacks at airports were carried out by ‘professional actors,’ and some analysts are pointing to Russia as a culprit. Russia has denied involvement.

Copenhagen

Russia denies involvement in drone flyovers at Danish airports

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has summoned hundreds of senior military officials to Virginia for an urgent gathering. The pentagon has provided very little details about the purpose of this meeting.

Quantico

Hegseth calls rare meeting of hundreds of senior military officers

Spain and Italy have sent naval vessels into the eastern Mediterranean to escort a flotilla of activists trying to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza. It’s a move that could set up tensions at sea and comes after the convoy says it was attacked by drones.

Madrid

Spain, Italy send navies to escort Gaza aid flotilla

Federal agents in Washington state have seized more than 50,000 counterfeit pills laced with carfentanil, a drug said to be 100 times more potent than fentanyl.

Centralia

Feds seize 50,000 pills laced with drug 100 times stronger than fentanyl

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the United Nations General Assembly virtually after the U.S. revoked visas for him and members of his delegation. CBS News' Olivia Gazis reports.

Mahmoud Abbas promises no Hamas in post-war Gaza government

The widow of one of the 60 passengers aboard the American Airlines regional jet involved in the deadly midair collision near D.C. in January has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against American Airlines, the FAA and the U.S. Army.

D.C. midair collision victim's family sues airline, FAA and Army

China led several countries in announcing new climate plans on Wednesday and offered a veiled rebuke of the U.S. president's anti-climate rhetoric a day earlier at the U.N. General Assembly.

Beijing

China sets new emissions goals after Trump rejects climate change

World leaders have launched an initiative, “Democracy Now,” on the sidelines of the UNGA to counter far-right extremism and defend multilateralism. As the UN faces skepticism, a new initiative by Brazil, Spain, Chile, Uruguay, and Colombia is gaining support among member states.

Leaders at the U.N. push reforms to counter authoritarian rise

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. The meeting came a day after President Trump appeared to soften his language on the Ukraine war, raising questions about U.S. policy direction.

Manhattan

Ukraine Invasion

Rubio meets Russia's Lavrov after Trump shifts tone on Ukraine war

The family of one of the 67 people killed earlier this year when an American Airlines plane and a  U.S. Army helicopter collided over Washington, D.C., filed a lawsuit against the government and the airline.

Widow of D.C. plane crash victim sues American Airlines, federal gov.

The new Paramount+ documentary "Bodyguard of Lies" highlights the efforts across four presidential administrations to conceal the challenges the U.S. faced during the Afghanistan

New documentary uncovers gov. deception during Afghanistan War

In his address to the U.N. General Assembly, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russia wants to expand the war beyond Ukraine.

Putin wants to expand war beyond Ukraine, Zelenskyy warns U.N.

The Trump administration is rehiring hundreds of federal employees who were laid off during cuts made by the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. CBS News' Olivia Rinaldi has more details.

Trump administration rehires hundreds laid off during DOGE cuts

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy faces up to 10 years in prison if a Paris court convicts him of secretly using funds from the Libyan government of late dictator Moammar Gadhafi to finance his presidential campaign in 2007.

Ex-French President Sarkozy awaits verdict in trial

An international aid flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza said on Wednesday (September 24) it was attacked overnight by drones in international waters off Greece, prompting Italy to send a navy ship to come to its assistance.

Italy sends navy ship to help Gaza aid flotilla after drone attack

At least three people were shot at a Dallas Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility on Wednesday morning, officials said. One victim was killed, while two others are injured. The shooter died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Dallas

Three people shot at ICE facility in Dallas, officials say

The U.S. has long argued China should give up the developing-country status because it is the world’s second-largest economy.

China gives up WTO developing-country status as tariff tensions linger

U.S. President Donald Trump reversed his stance on the Ukraine war after meeting President Volodymyr Zelensky at the UN General Assembly, now expressing confidence that Ukraine can reclaim all its territory.

Trump reverses stance on Ukraine after meeting with Zelenskyy

After a six-day suspension, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel broke down in tears during his return to TV with a monologue focused on the importance of the maintaining the right to free speech while still poking fun at the Trump administration.

Los Angeles

Jimmy Kimmel makes emotional return with monologue about free speech

Typhoon Ragasa, the world's most powerful tropical cyclone this year, struck the southern Chinese city of Yangjiang on Wednesday after lashing Taiwan and Hong Kong with ferocious winds and heavy rains.

Yangjiang

Typhoon Ragasa lashes Hong Kong, Taiwan, southern China

Mainland China is bracing for Super Typhoon Ragasa, after the powerful storm caused widespread destruction across the region. In Taiwan, at least 14 people have died in flooding triggered by the cyclone.

Kowloon

Typhoon Ragasa sweeping towards China, 14 killed in Taiwan

A jury has convicted Ryan Routh of attempting to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump on his Florida golf course last year. He was found guilty of all five charges, which included attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate and assaulting a federal officer.

West Palm Beach

Ryan Routh found guilty of trying to assassinate Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday (September 23) spoke with reporters while meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.

Trump takes questions during meeting with Zelenskyy

Chipmaker Nvidia said it would invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, as part of a strategic partnership. CBS MoneyWatch correspondent Kelly O'Grady has more details.

Santa Clara

Rise of AI

Nvidia to invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI

For the first time in more than half a century, astronauts will soon be heading back to the moon. CBC's Nicole Mortillaro breaks down the preparations for the mission, Artemis II, which will send astronauts on a historic loop around the moon.

Breakdown