04:20 PM EDT, 10/24/2025 (MT Newswires) -- US equity indexes closed higher on Friday after mild consumer inflation data from September reinforced interest rate cuts and a rise in technology stocks.

* Inflation in the US rose at a slower pace in September, with the consumer price index up 0.3% from the previous month, easing from August's 0.4% increase, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The annual rate ticked up to 3%, below Wall Street's 3.1% forecast, as price growth continued to climb from April's low of 2.3%.

Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.2% in September, slightly down from August's 0.3%. On an annual basis, the core rate fell to 3%, the lowest in three months, defying expectations for no change in both monthly and yearly readings.

* Consumer sentiment in the US fell more than expected in October, with the University of Michigan index revised down to 53.6 from a preliminary 55.0, missing the 54.5 forecast and below September's final reading of 55.1. Short-term inflation expectations eased slightly to 4.6% from 4.7%, while long-term expectations edged up to 3.9% from 3.7%.

* December West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell $0.30 to settle at $61.49 per barrel, while December Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen down $0.08 to $65.91.

* Ford Motor ( F ) shares rose nearly 12% after the automaker posted Q3 earnings that surpassed analysts' expectations.

* Deckers Outdoor ( DECK ) shares fell roughly 15% after the company reported fiscal Q2 earnings that rose unexpectedly from a year earlier but issued a full-year forecast that came in below analysts' expectations.