By Lucia Mutikani WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. consumer prices increased slightly less than expected in September, keeping the Federal Reserve on track to cut interest rates again next week. The Consumer Price Index rose 0.3% last month after climbing 0.4% in August, the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics said on Friday. In the 12 months through September, the CPI increased 3.0% after advancing 2.9% in August. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the CPI increasing 0.4% and rising 3.1% year-on-year. Excluding the volatile food and energy components, the CPI gained 0.2% after rising 0.3% in August. The so-called core CPI increased 3.0% year-on-year after rising 3.1% in August. The CPI report was published despite an economic data blackout because of the government shutdown in

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