Consumer Price Index (CPI)
What is Consumer Price Index?
A measure of the average change in prices paid by consumers for a basket of goods and services.
Understanding Consumer Price Index
In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes the CPI monthly. It tracks prices for housing, food, transport, medical care, and more, weighted by how much households spend on each.
The percentage change in the CPI over a year is the most widely quoted inflation rate. Core CPI excludes volatile food and energy prices.
In 2026
The September 2026 CPI, released October 14, 2026, showed prices up 3.7% over 12 months and 0.6% in the month (seasonally adjusted). Core CPI was up 2.6% over the year. The next release, for October 2026, is scheduled for November 10, 2026.