Consumer Price Index - March 2026
Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until 8:30 am (ET) April 24, 2026
USDL-33-3333
Top Takeaways
1-month percent change, March 2026
+0.9%
CPI-U, all items, seasonally adjusted
12-month percent change, March 2026
+3.3%
CPI-U, all items, not seasonally adjusted
Abstract
CPI NextGen Test 5/4/2026 - In March, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers rose 0.9 percent, seasonally adjusted, and rose 3.3 percent over the last 12 months, not seasonally adjusted. The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.2 percent in March (SA).
CPI-U, 1-month changes, seasonally adjusted
CPI, 1-month percent change, seasonally adjusted, March 2023 to March 2026
| Month |
All items |
Food |
Energy |
All items less food and energy |
Mar 2023 |
0.1% |
0.0% |
-2.0% |
0.3% |
Apr 2023 |
0.3% |
0.2% |
-0.7% |
0.5% |
May 2023 |
0.2% |
0.2% |
-2.3% |
0.4% |
June 2023 |
0.2% |
0.1% |
0.5% |
0.2% |
July 2023 |
0.2% |
0.3% |
-0.1% |
0.2% |
Aug 2023 |
0.5% |
0.3% |
4.3% |
0.2% |
Sept 2023 |
0.4% |
0.1% |
1.8% |
0.3% |
Oct 2023 |
0.1% |
0.3% |
-2.0% |
0.3% |
Nov 2023 |
0.1% |
0.1% |
-1.6% |
0.3% |
Dec 2023 |
0.2% |
0.2% |
-0.5% |
0.3% |
Jan 2024 |
0.3% |
0.3% |
-0.3% |
0.4% |
Feb 2024 |
0.4% |
0.1% |
1.2% |
0.4% |
Mar 2024 |
0.4% |
0.0% |
1.9% |
0.4% |
Apr 2024 |
0.2% |
0.2% |
-0.4% |
0.3% |
May 2024 |
0.0% |
0.2% |
-1.2% |
0.1% |
June 2024 |
0.0% |
0.2% |
-2.1% |
0.1% |
July 2024 |
0.2% |
0.2% |
0.0% |
0.2% |
Aug 2024 |
0.2% |
0.1% |
-0.9% |
0.3% |
Sept 2024 |
0.2% |
0.3% |
-1.1% |
0.3% |
Oct 2024 |
0.3% |
0.2% |
0.1% |
0.3% |
Nov 2024 |
0.3% |
0.4% |
0.1% |
0.3% |
Dec 2024 |
0.3% |
0.3% |
2.4% |
0.2% |
Jan 2025 |
0.4% |
0.3% |
0.9% |
0.4% |
Feb 2025 |
0.2% |
0.2% |
-0.1% |
0.3% |
Mar 2025 |
0.0% |
0.4% |
-1.1% |
0.1% |
Apr 2025 |
0.2% |
0.0% |
-0.6% |
0.2% |
May 2025 |
0.1% |
0.3% |
-0.7% |
0.1% |
June 2025 |
0.3% |
0.3% |
0.4% |
0.2% |
July 2025 |
0.2% |
0.1% |
-0.6% |
0.3% |
Aug 2025 |
0.3% |
0.4% |
0.7% |
0.3% |
Sept 2025 |
0.3% |
0.2% |
1.4% |
0.2% |
Oct 2025 |
|
|
|
|
Nov 2025 |
|
|
|
|
Dec 2025 |
0.3% |
0.7% |
0.3% |
0.2% |
Jan 2026 |
0.2% |
0.2% |
-1.5% |
0.3% |
Feb 2026 |
0.3% |
0.4% |
0.6% |
0.2% |
Mar 2026 |
0.9% |
0.0% |
10.9% |
0.2% |
All items and selected categories
- The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.9 percent in March after increasing 0.3 percent in February..
- The food index was unchanged in March.
- The energy index increased 10.9 percent in March.
- The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.2 percent in March.
Food CPI, 1-month percent change, seasonally adjusted, March 2026
| Item |
Percent change |
Food at home |
-0.2% |
Cereals and bakery products |
-0.6% |
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs |
-0.6% |
Dairy and related products |
-0.6% |
Fruits and vegetables |
1.0% |
Nonalcoholic beverages |
-0.3% |
Other food at home |
0.0% |
Food away from home |
0.2% |
Full service meals |
0.3% |
Limited service meals |
0.2% |
Food
- The index for food was unchanged in March following an increase of 0.4 percent in February..
- The index for food at home decreased 0.2 percent in March after increasing 0.4 percent in February.
- The index for food away from home increased 0.2 percent in March following an increase of 0.3 percent in February.
Energy CPI, 1-month percent change, seasonally adjusted, March 2026
| Item |
Percent change |
Energy |
10.9% |
Gasoline |
21.2% |
Electricity |
0.8% |
Natural gas |
-0.9% |
Energy
- The energy index increased 10.9 percent in March as gasoline, fuel oil, and electricity increased, and natural gas decreased.
- The gasoline index increased 21.2 percent in March following an increase of 0.8 percent in February.
- Before seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices increased 24.9 percent in March.
- The electricity index increased 0.8 percent in March after decreasing 0.7 percent in February.
- The index for natural gas decreased 0.9 percent in March after increasing 3.1 percent in February.
All items less food and energy CPI, 1-month percent change, seasonally adjusted, March 2026
| Item |
Percent change |
All items less food and energy |
0.2% |
Shelter |
0.3% |
Apparel |
1.0% |
New vehicles |
0.1% |
Used cars and trucks |
-0.4% |
Medical care |
-0.2% |
Recreation |
0.0% |
Education |
0.3% |
Communication |
0.1% |
All items less food and energy
- The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.2 percent in March following an increase of 0.2 percent in February.
- The shelter index increased 0.3 percent in March as the index for owners' equivalent rent increased 0.3 percent, and rent increased 0.2 percent.
- The index for new vehicles increased 0.1 percent in March following no change in February.
- The index for used cars and trucks decreased 0.4 percent in March following a decrease of 0.4 percent in February.
- The index for medical care decreased 0.2 percent in March following an increase of 0.5 percent in February.
CPI-U, 12-month changes, not seasonally adjusted
CPI, 12-month percent change, not seasonally adjusted, March 2023 to March 2026
| Month |
All items |
Food |
Energy |
All items less food and energy |
Mar 2023 |
5.0% |
8.5% |
-6.4% |
5.6% |
Apr 2023 |
4.9% |
7.7% |
-5.1% |
5.5% |
May 2023 |
4.0% |
6.7% |
-11.7% |
5.3% |
June 2023 |
3.0% |
5.7% |
-16.7% |
4.8% |
July 2023 |
3.2% |
4.9% |
-12.5% |
4.7% |
Aug 2023 |
3.7% |
4.3% |
-3.6% |
4.3% |
Sept 2023 |
3.7% |
3.7% |
-0.5% |
4.1% |
Oct 2023 |
3.2% |
3.3% |
-4.5% |
4.0% |
Nov 2023 |
3.1% |
2.9% |
-5.4% |
4.0% |
Dec 2023 |
3.4% |
2.7% |
-2.0% |
3.9% |
Jan 2024 |
3.1% |
2.6% |
-4.6% |
3.9% |
Feb 2024 |
3.2% |
2.2% |
-1.9% |
3.8% |
Mar 2024 |
3.5% |
2.2% |
2.1% |
3.8% |
Apr 2024 |
3.4% |
2.2% |
2.6% |
3.6% |
May 2024 |
3.3% |
2.1% |
3.7% |
3.4% |
June 2024 |
3.0% |
2.2% |
1.0% |
3.3% |
July 2024 |
2.9% |
2.2% |
1.1% |
3.2% |
Aug 2024 |
2.5% |
2.1% |
-4.0% |
3.2% |
Sept 2024 |
2.4% |
2.3% |
-6.8% |
3.3% |
Oct 2024 |
2.6% |
2.1% |
-4.9% |
3.3% |
Nov 2024 |
2.7% |
2.4% |
-3.2% |
3.3% |
Dec 2024 |
2.9% |
2.5% |
-0.5% |
3.2% |
Jan 2025 |
3.0% |
2.5% |
1.0% |
3.3% |
Feb 2025 |
2.8% |
2.6% |
-0.2% |
3.1% |
Mar 2025 |
2.4% |
3.0% |
-3.3% |
2.8% |
Apr 2025 |
2.3% |
2.8% |
-3.7% |
2.8% |
May 2025 |
2.4% |
2.9% |
-3.5% |
2.8% |
June 2025 |
2.7% |
3.0% |
-0.8% |
2.9% |
July 2025 |
2.7% |
2.9% |
-1.6% |
3.1% |
Aug 2025 |
2.9% |
3.2% |
0.2% |
3.1% |
Sept 2025 |
3.0% |
3.1% |
2.8% |
3.0% |
Oct 2025 |
|
|
|
|
Nov 2025 |
2.7% |
2.6% |
4.2% |
2.6% |
Dec 2025 |
2.7% |
3.1% |
2.3% |
2.6% |
Jan 2026 |
2.4% |
2.9% |
-0.1% |
2.5% |
Feb 2026 |
2.4% |
3.1% |
0.5% |
2.5% |
Mar 2026 |
3.3% |
2.7% |
12.5% |
2.6% |
All items and selected categories
- Over the last 12 months, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 3.3 percent before seasonal adjustment to an index level of 330.213, the largest over-the-year increase since May 2024 (+3.3 percent).
- The food index increased 2.7 percent over the year.
- The energy index increased 12.5 percent over the year.
- The index for all items less food and energy increased 2.6 percent over the year.
Food CPI, 12-month percent change, not seasonally adjusted, March 2025 to March 2026
| Item |
Percent change |
Food at home |
1.9% |
Cereals and bakery products |
2.1% |
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs |
-0.9% |
Dairy and related products |
-1.6% |
Fruits and vegetables |
4.0% |
Nonalcoholic beverages |
4.7% |
Other food at home |
2.9% |
Food away from home |
3.8% |
Full service meals |
4.3% |
Limited service meals |
3.2% |
Food
- Over the last 12 months, the index for food increased 2.7 percent.
- The index for food at home increased 1.9 percent over the year; 4 major grocery store food groups decreased, 1 major grocery store food group increased, and 1 major grocery store food group was unchanged.
- The index for food away from home increased 3.8 percent over the year. The index for full service meals increased 4.3 percent, and the index for limited service meals increased 3.2 percent.
Energy CPI, 12-month percent change, not seasonally adjusted, March 2025 to March 2026
| Item |
Percent change |
Energy |
12.5% |
Gasoline |
18.9% |
Electricity |
4.6% |
Natural gas |
6.4% |
Energy
- Over the last 12 months, the energy index increased 12.5 percent..
- The gasoline index increased 18.9 percent over the year, the largest over-the-year increase since August 2022 (+25.6 percent).
- The index for electricity increased 4.6 percent over the year.
- The natural gas index increased 6.4 percent over the year.
All items less food and energy CPI, 12-month percent change, not seasonally adjusted, March 2025 to March 2026
| Item |
Percent change |
All items less food and energy |
2.6% |
Shelter |
3.0% |
Apparel |
3.4% |
New vehicles |
0.5% |
Used cars and trucks |
-3.2% |
Medical Care |
3.1% |
Recreation |
2.2% |
Education |
2.8% |
Communication |
-2.2% |
All items less food and energy
- Over the last 12 months, the index for all items less food and energy increased 2.6 percent..
- The shelter index increased 3.0 percent over the year.
- The new vehicles index increased 0.5 percent over the year.
- The used cars and trucks index decreased 3.2 percent over the year.
- The medical care index increased 3.1 percent over the year.
Additional Measures
- The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 3.3 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 323.500. For the month, the index increased 1.3 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.
- The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 3.1 percent over the last 12 months. For the month, the index increased 1.1 percent on a not seasonally adjusted basis. Please note that the indexes for the past 10 to 12 months are subject to revision.
Next Release
- May 12, 2026 at 8:30 am (ET)
What are Consumer Price Indexes?
Consumer Price Indexes (CPI) measure the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services. Indexes are available for the U.S. and various geographic areas.
United States Department of Labor
