CPI release
CPI report: September 2026
Consumer prices rose 3.7% in the 12 months through September 2026, up from 3.4% in August. Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, ran 2.6%. The CPI-U index stood at 336.94, a 0.6% change from the prior month (not seasonally adjusted).
The numbers
The September 2026 report puts headline inflation at 3.7%, core at 2.6%, and the CPI-U index at 336.94:
| Headline inflation (12-month) | 3.7% |
|---|---|
| Core inflation (12-month) | 2.6% |
| CPI-U index level | 336.94 |
| Change vs. prior month (NSA) | 0.6% |
What moved: inflation by category
Over the twelve months ending September 2026, prices rose fastest in gasoline (all types) (34.2%), airline fares (22.4%), energy (20.4%), while motor vehicle insurance prices fell (-5.0%).
| Category | 12-month rate | vs. prior month (NSA) |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (all types) | 34.2% | 6.5% |
| Airline fares | 22.4% | 2.0% |
| Energy | 20.4% | 3.7% |
| Transportation | 7.9% | 1.7% |
| Utility (piped) gas service | 5.0% | -0.8% |
| Electricity | 4.4% | -0.1% |
| College tuition and fees | 4.0% | 1.6% |
| Food away from home | 3.5% | 0.2% |
| Apparel | 3.4% | 2.4% |
| Housing | 3.3% | 0.3% |
| Owners' equivalent rent | 3.3% | 0.4% |
| Shelter | 3.2% | 0.3% |
| Recreation | 2.8% | 0.5% |
| Rent of primary residence | 2.8% | 0.3% |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 2.6% | 0.4% |
| Food | 2.5% | 0.1% |
| Education & communication | 2.3% | 0.4% |
| Food at home | 1.8% | 0.1% |
| Medical care | 1.5% | 0.1% |
| New vehicles | 0.6% | 0.1% |
| Used cars and trucks | -1.5% | -0.1% |
| Prescription drugs | -4.5% | -1.2% |
| Motor vehicle insurance | -5.0% | -0.3% |
Recent months
The 12-month rate has eased from 3.8% in April 2026 to 3.7% in September 2026:
| Month | CPI-U | 12-month rate |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 336.94 | 3.7% |
| August 2026 | 334.98 | 3.4% |
| July 2026 | 333.918 | 3.4% |
| June 2026 | 333.952 | 3.5% |
| May 2026 | 335.123 | 4.2% |
| April 2026 | 333.02 | 3.8% |
Put it in context
September 2026's annual rate of 3.7% is up from 3.4% in August and higher than the 3.0% of a year earlier.
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted (official CPI news releases). Category series are listed on the data sources page. See the methodology.