U.S. stock index futures fell Tuesday as renewed Middle East hostilities pushed Brent crude to $99.18 a barrel, its highest level since July 24, while investors positioned for key inflation data. The shortened week after the Labor Day holiday will feature the Producer Price Index on Thursday and the Consumer Price Index on Friday. Markets have been recalibrating Federal Reserve rate expectations after comments from Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller and a stronger-than-expected jobs report. Traders see a 58.4% chance of a rate increase this month, according to the CME FedWatch tool, although Samuel Tombs, chief U.S. economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said upcoming inflation readings should be mild enough for most policymakers to avoid tightening. The U.S.-Iran war, now in its seventh month, remains an overhang on equities after Tehran-backed Houthis attacked energy facilities and cities in Saudi Arabia and Israel struck a southern Lebanese town. Energy shares rose before the opening bell, while crypto stocks declined as bitcoin retreated from $80,000; chipmakers gained on optimism about artificial intelligence.