Mortgage7.18%▼Gas$4.00▼Inflation3.7%▲Fed rate3.75–4.00%▲Savings0.38%Oil$99.64▼
ECONOMY STUDIO

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Data · United States

US Inflation Rate

3.7%12-month change in consumer prices, September 2026
Updates automaticallyLatest: September 2026 data Next: December 10, 2026 (official calendar) Source: BLS
2.6%Core inflation (no food or energy)
+20.4%Energy prices, 12 months
+34.2%Gasoline, 12 months
2%The Fed's goal

12-month inflation, %

0%2%4%6%8%10%202220232024202520263.7%
Source: BLS CPI-U, all items, not seasonally adjusted (FRED CPIAUCNS). Dashed line: the Fed's 2% goal.

In plain English

Prices across the US economy were 3.7% higher in September 2026 than a year earlier, up from 3.4% in August 2026. That is above the Federal Reserve's 2% goal.

Over the same 12 months, energy prices changed +20.4% and gasoline +34.2%. Without food and energy, whose prices jump around, "core" inflation was 2.6%.

Since 1960, the highest inflation rate was 14.8% in March 1980. The most recent peak was 9.1% in June 2022.

What's your $100 worth? Try the inflation calculator →

Latest figures

MonthInflation rate
Sep 20263.7%
Aug 20263.4%
Jul 20263.4%
Jun 20263.5%
May 20264.2%
Apr 20263.8%
Mar 20263.3%
Feb 20262.4%
Jan 20262.4%
Dec 20252.7%
Nov 20252.7%
Sep 20253.0%

One month is missing from the official series: October 2025 was never collected because of the 2025 government shutdown.

Questions

What is the US inflation rate right now?

3.7% in the 12 months to September 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

How is inflation measured?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics collects about 100,000 prices every month, from food and fuel to haircuts and car insurance, and combines them into the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The inflation rate is the CPI's change over 12 months.

What is "core" inflation?

Inflation without food and energy, whose prices jump around. It shows the slower trend underneath: 2.6% in September 2026.

What inflation rate does the Fed want?

2% over time. Not zero: falling prices can stall the economy.

When is the next inflation report?

December 10, 2026 (November data · BLS, 8:30 ET). This page updates itself the same day.

Sources

  1. BLS, Consumer Price Index news release
  2. BLS CPI-U, all items, not seasonally adjusted (FRED CPIAUCNS)
  3. BLS CPI-U less food and energy (FRED CPILFENS)
  4. BLS CPI-U energy (FRED CPIENGNS)
  5. BLS CPI-U gasoline (FRED CUUR0000SETB01)
  6. BLS Handbook of Methods: CPI data sources
  7. Federal Reserve, Statement on Longer-Run Goals and Monetary Policy Strategy
  8. BLS, CPI release schedule

Figures come straight from the official data and are checked before publishing. Educational content only, not financial advice.