Most stocks fell on Wall Street following a disappointing update on inflation. But gains for Amazon and other influential Big Tech companies helped mask the losses on Thursday, and the S&P 500 edged up by less than 0.

Retail inflation held few surprises in July, with the overall number steady but core inflation, which the Fed watches, continuing a reacceleration that started in March.

Questions about the veracity of government data have been on the rise. Older methods of the calculation of the consumer price index may present a truer picture of price growth.