CPI release
CPI report: May 2026
Consumer prices rose 4.2% in the 12 months through May 2026, up from 3.8% in April. Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, ran 2.9%. The CPI-U index stood at 335.123, a 0.6% change from the prior month (not seasonally adjusted).
The numbers
| Headline inflation (12-month) | 4.2% |
|---|---|
| Core inflation (12-month) | 2.9% |
| CPI-U index level | 335.123 |
| Change vs. prior month (NSA) | 0.6% |
Recent months
| Month | CPI-U | 12-month rate |
|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | 335.123 | 4.2% |
| April 2026 | 333.02 | 3.8% |
| March 2026 | 330.213 | 3.3% |
| February 2026 | 326.785 | 2.4% |
| January 2026 | 325.252 | 2.4% |
| December 2025 | 324.054 | 2.7% |
Put it in context
- The current inflation rate, to check whether this is still the latest reading
- What 2025 dollars are worth in 2026, the year-over-year conversion
- How the BLS turns 80,000 prices into this number
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U (series CUUR0000SA0 and CUUR0000SA0L1E), not seasonally adjusted. See the methodology.