Consumer Price Index - May 2026
Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until 8:30 am (ET) June 30, 2026
USDL-55-5555
Top Takeaways
1-month percent change, May 2026
+0.5%
CPI-U, all items, seasonally adjusted
12-month percent change, May 2026
+4.2%
CPI-U, all items, not seasonally adjusted
Abstract
CPI NextGen Test 9/11/2026 - In May, 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, May 2023 to May 2026
| Month |
All items |
Food |
Energy |
All items less food and energy |
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% |
Apr 2026 |
0.6% |
0.5% |
3.8% |
0.4% |
May 2026 |
0.5% |
0.2% |
3.9% |
0.2% |
All items and selected categories
- The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.5 percent in May after increasing 0.6 percent in April.
- The food index advanced 0.2 percent in May.
- The energy index rose 3.9 percent in May.
- The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.2 percent in May.
- QCT test
Food CPI, 1-month percent change, seasonally adjusted, May 2026
| Item |
Percent change |
Food at home |
0.1% |
Cereals and bakery products |
0.4% |
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs |
-0.2% |
Dairy and related products |
-0.6% |
Fruits and vegetables |
0.2% |
Nonalcoholic beverages |
0.6% |
Other food at home |
0.0% |
Food away from home |
0.3% |
Full service meals |
0.3% |
Limited service meals |
0.3% |
Food
- The index for food increased 0.2 percent in May following an increase of 0.5 percent in April.
- The index for food at home advanced 0.1 percent in May after advancing 0.7 percent in April.
- The index for food away from home rose 0.3 percent in May following a rise of 0.2 percent in April.
Energy CPI, 1-month percent change, seasonally adjusted, May 2026
| Item |
Percent change |
Energy |
3.9% |
Gasoline |
7.0% |
Electricity |
0.6% |
Natural gas |
-0.5% |
Energy
- The energy index increased 3.9 percent in May as gasoline, fuel oil, and electricity increased, and natural gas decreased.
- The gasoline index advanced 7.0 percent in May following an advance of 5.4 percent in April.
- Before seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices rose 8.6 percent in May.
- The electricity index increased 0.6 percent in May after increasing 2.1 percent in April.
- The index for natural gas declined 0.5 percent in May after declining 0.1 percent in April.
All items less food and energy CPI, 1-month percent change, seasonally adjusted, May 2026
| Item |
Percent change |
All items less food and energy |
0.2% |
Shelter |
0.3% |
Apparel |
0.3% |
New vehicles |
-0.3% |
Used cars and trucks |
0.1% |
Medical care |
0.3% |
Recreation |
0.3% |
Education |
0.0% |
Communication |
1.3% |
All items less food and energy
- The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.2 percent in May following an increase of 0.4 percent in April.
- The shelter index advanced 0.3 percent in May as the index for rent advanced 0.4 percent, and owners' equivalent rent advanced 0.3 percent.
- The index for new vehicles fell 0.3 percent in May following a fall of 0.2 percent in April.
- The index for used cars and trucks increased 0.1 percent in May following no change in April.
- The index for medical care advanced 0.3 percent in May following a decline of 0.1 percent in April.
CPI-U, 12-month changes, not seasonally adjusted
CPI, 12-month percent change, not seasonally adjusted, May 2023 to May 2026
| Month |
All items |
Food |
Energy |
All items less food and energy |
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% |
Apr 2026 |
3.8% |
3.2% |
17.9% |
2.8% |
May 2026 |
4.2% |
3.1% |
23.5% |
2.9% |
All items and selected categories
- Over the last 12 months, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 4.2 percent before seasonal adjustment to an index level of 335.123, the largest over-the-year increase since April 2023 (+4.9 percent).
- The food index advanced 3.1 percent over the year.
- The energy index rose 23.5 percent over the year.
- The index for all items less food and energy increased 2.9 percent over the year.
Food CPI, 12-month percent change, not seasonally adjusted, May 2025 to May 2026
| Item |
Percent change |
Food at home |
2.7% |
Cereals and bakery products |
1.9% |
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs |
1.8% |
Dairy and related products |
-1.0% |
Fruits and vegetables |
6.1% |
Nonalcoholic beverages |
5.8% |
Other food at home |
2.0% |
Food away from home |
3.5% |
Full service meals |
3.8% |
Limited service meals |
3.3% |
Food
- Over the last 12 months, the index for food increased 3.1 percent.
- The index for food at home advanced 2.7 percent over the year; 5 major grocery store food groups advanced and 1 major grocery store food group declined.
- The index for food away from home rose 3.5 percent over the year. The index for full service meals rose 3.8 percent, and the index for limited service meals rose 3.3 percent.
Energy CPI, 12-month percent change, not seasonally adjusted, May 2025 to May 2026
| Item |
Percent change |
Energy |
23.5% |
Gasoline |
40.5% |
Electricity |
5.9% |
Natural gas |
3.0% |
Energy
- Over the last 12 months, the energy index increased 23.5 percent.
- The gasoline index advanced 40.5 percent over the year, the largest over-the-year advance since July 2022 (+44.0 percent).
- The index for electricity rose 5.9 percent over the year.
- The natural gas index increased 3.0 percent over the year.
All items less food and energy CPI, 12-month percent change, not seasonally adjusted, May 2025 to May 2026
| Item |
Percent change |
All items less food and energy |
2.9% |
Shelter |
3.4% |
Apparel |
4.8% |
New vehicles |
0.2% |
Used cars and trucks |
-2.0% |
Medical Care |
2.6% |
Recreation |
2.6% |
Education |
2.6% |
Communication |
-0.6% |
All items less food and energy
- Over the last 12 months, the index for all items less food and energy increased 2.9 percent.
- The shelter index advanced 3.4 percent over the year.
- The new vehicles index rose 0.2 percent over the year.
- The used cars and trucks index declined 2.0 percent over the year.
- The medical care index rose 2.6 percent over the year.
Additional Measures
Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)- The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 4.4 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 328.829. For the month, the index increased 0.7 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.
Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U)- The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 4.0 percent over the last 12 months. For the month, the index increased 0.6 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
- September 11, 2026 at 10:30 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
