U.S. consumer-price inflation showed signs of moderating in August for the second straight month, though the decrease was uneven across sectors and it remains unclear whether the slowdown will continue. Gasoline prices fell sharply in August , airfares dropped and used cars and hotels ebbed, while rent increases also gave hints of slowing , according to private firms that track such data. Still, food prices continued to soar this past month and prices for a range of goods and services remained much higher than a year earlier, the figures show. The path of inflation could influence looming decisions by the Federal Reserve about how high to lift interest rates . Inflation could also shape midterm elections as voters assess their pocketbooks. Looking ahead to a government inflation report to be released on Tuesday, many Wall Street analysts estimate the Labor Department’s overall consumer-price index was unchanged or dropped in […]