Cheaper energy helped pull overall U.S. consumer prices down steeply in September and new-home building unexpectedly rebounded, implying a still-resilient economy.

The promising government economic data on Wednesday bolstered investors’ hopes for stronger corporate profits and persuaded analysts the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates on hold as it gauges the impact of cheaper energy on inflation expectations.

The Labor Department said overall U.S. consumer prices dropped 0.5 percent in September after rising 0.2 percent in August. But core prices, which exclude food and energy, crept up 0.2 percent for a third successive month, enough to keep inflation risk at the forefront as a potential worry.

Separately, the Commerce Department said housing starts hit an annual pace of 1.772 million units in September, compared with an upwardly revised 1.674 million pace in August.

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