U.S. prices went up faster last month.

Gas prices jumped after new fighting in the Middle East.

The Labor Department said Friday the consumer price index rose 3.4% from a year ago.

That is the same as July.

But prices rose 0.4% from July.

That is four times the 0.1% rise the month before.

This report puts more pressure on the Federal Reserve.

The Fed may raise its main interest rate next week.

That can make mortgages and car loans cost more in the coming months.

Fed Chair Kevin Warsh and other officials said they need to see prices keep cooling.

Then they can leave rates alone.

Kathy Bostjancic is the chief economist at Nationwide.

She said the August report did not show that.

Gas prices rose 3.9% from July to August.

They are more than 27% higher than a year ago.

Diesel prices hit record highs above $6 a gallon.

That pushes up shipping costs for food and other goods.

Airline tickets rose 2.7% for the month.

They are more than 23% higher than a year ago.

Hotel room prices rose 2.4% from July to August.

Core prices do not include food and energy.

They were 2.4% higher than a year ago.

That is a little down from 2.5% in July.

But monthly core prices rose 0.3%.

That is the largest rise since April.

Wall Street investors now see a more than 80% chance the Fed will raise rates on Sept. 16.

That is from CME Fedwatch.