U.S. inflation ticked higher in November while core price pressures held at multiyear lows, potentially completing the picture for the Federal Reserve's end-of-year interest-rate decision next week. The Commerce Department said its headline Consumer Price Index for November was pegged at an annual rate of 2.

Consumer inflation accelerated in November to 2.7% from 2.6% and core CPI was sticky at 3.3%. But a December Fed rate cut still looks like a sure thing.

One metric to watch in the CPI data is the year-over-year core CPI, which will play a key role in the outlook for Federal Reserve interest-rate policy, said Brett Kenwell, U.S. investment analyst at e Toro.