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Prices & Inflation

US Consumer Price Index (CPI-U)

Measures the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a representative basket of goods and services.

Updated Monthly U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Current Value
330.2
Index (1982–84=100)
+0.9% MoM
YoY Change
+3.3%
Year over Year
vs. +2.4% prior
5Y CAGR
+4.5%
Compound Annual
↑ from 4.1%
Total Observations
949
Monthly, Jan 1947–

Data

PeriodCPI IndexGrowth (YoY)Core Inflation
Q1 2026327.4+2.7%3.3%
Q4 2025324.6+2.8%3.3%
Q3 2025323.9+2.9%3.0%
Q2 2025321.6+2.4%2.9%
Q1 2025318.9+2.7%3.1%
Q4 2024315.6+2.8%3.3%

About this Dataset

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) is the most widely referenced inflation gauge in the United States. Published monthly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), it measures price changes in a fixed basket of goods and services representing the expenditures of approximately 93% of the US population.

The CPI is often used as the benchmark for inflation adjustments in financial contracts, government benefit programs, and monetary policy frameworks.

  • Coverage: All urban consumers (CPI-U) — approximately 93% of the US population
  • Frequency: Monthly, released mid-month for the prior month
  • Base period: 1982–84 = 100
  • Geographic scope: 87 urban areas across the United States
  • Data history: January 1947 to present (949+ observations; BLS back-estimates available to 1913)
  • Revision policy: Subject to seasonal adjustment revisions each February

The weights assigned to each expenditure category are updated periodically based on Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CE). Since 2023, weights are updated annually using a two-year average of expenditure data, improving the index’s responsiveness to shifting consumption patterns.

Frequently Asked Questions

The CPI-U (Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers) tracks price changes for a fixed basket of goods and services purchased by approximately 93% of the US population. The Bureau of Labor Statistics surveys prices monthly across 87 urban areas, measuring around 80,000 items. The basket is periodically updated to reflect changing consumer spending patterns.
CPI data is central to fixed-income markets — it directly drives TIPS (Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities) bond pricing and adjusts nominal yields to real yields. It feeds into Fed monetary policy decisions, long-term contract escalation clauses, Social Security COLA adjustments, and wage negotiation models. PE firms use CPI to stress-test portfolio company margins and model inflation pass-through risk.
Core CPI excludes food and energy prices, which tend to be more volatile due to seasonal factors and commodity price swings. Core CPI is often considered a better measure of underlying inflation trends. The Federal Reserve focuses primarily on PCE (Personal Consumption Expenditures) inflation but closely monitors Core CPI as a cross-reference.
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