U.S. inflation accelerated in August, with CPI rising 0.4% from the previous month and core CPI increasing 0.3%; core CPI was up 2.4% year over year, slightly above market expectations. China International Capital Corp. (CICC) said the data had reached a threshold for the Federal Reserve to resume raising interest rates and forecast a possible 25-basis-point increase at the Sept. 16 policy meeting, taking the federal funds target range to 3.75% to 4%. Energy costs, resilient services prices and emerging price pressures linked to artificial intelligence were identified as key drivers. CICC also expects the Fed to lower its unemployment forecast, raise its inflation forecast and lift its 2027 and 2028 interest-rate paths, producing a more hawkish policy signal. It warned that further increases this year or next remain a larger risk, leaving room for markets to reprice expectations for the rate-cut cycle.