Consumer prices rose faster than economists forecasted last month for the first time since March, posing a potential obstacle to the yearslong fight to return to 2% inflation.

Headline consumer price index inflation was 2.4% in September, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released Thursday morning.

The 2.4% year-over-year increase in the index compares to average economist forecasts of 2.3% headline inflation, according to FactSet data.

It’s still the lowest inflation rate since Feb. 2021, besting August’s 2.5%.

Core CPI inflation, arguably the more important metric for policymakers as it excludes the more fickle food and energy sub indexes, was 3.3% last month, compared to projections of 3.2%, where it also stood in July and August.

The 0.2% month-over-month increase in headline inflation compares to estimates of 0.1%, and a 0.3% jump in core inflation compares to forecasts of 0.2%.

Stocks dipped following the inflation report, with S&P 500 futures down 0.4% within 15 minutes of the release, though the leading U.S. equity index closed Wednesday at an all-time high.