{"version":1,"asset_type":"statistical_series","data_type":"time_series","slug":"us-consumer-price-index","url":"https://apiardata.com/statistics/us-consumer-price-index","html_url":"https://apiardata.com/statistics/us-consumer-price-index/","title":"US Consumer Price Index (CPI-U)","description":"Measures the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a representative basket of goods and services.","domain":"prices","category":"Prices & Inflation","keywords":["Prices & Inflation","CPI","Macroeconomics"],"publisher":"U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics","frequency":"Monthly","geography":"87 US urban areas","temporal_coverage":"1913-01/..","last_updated":"2026-07-25","last_updated_text":"July 25, 2026","data_as_of":"June 2026","variable_measured":"Consumer Price Index","measurement_technique":"Consumer expenditure surveys","license":"https://apiardata.com/data-license","is_accessible_for_free":true,"sources":[{"name":"U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics","url":"https://www.bls.gov/cpi/"},{"name":"FRED — Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis","url":"https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CPIAUCSL"},{"name":"BLS Public Data API","url":"https://www.bls.gov/developers/"}],"meta":[{"label":"Frequency","value":"Monthly"},{"label":"Coverage","value":"Jan 1947–present"},{"label":"Observations","value":"952"},{"label":"Base period","value":"1982–84 = 100"},{"label":"Geography","value":"87 US urban areas"},{"label":"Last updated","value":"July 25, 2026"}],"kpis":[{"label":"Current Value","value":"334.0","unit":"Index (1982–84=100)","trend":{"direction":"down","value":"-0.3% MoM"}},{"label":"YoY Change","value":"+3.5%","unit":"Year over Year","trend":{"direction":"up","value":"vs. +3.3% prior"}},{"label":"5Y CAGR","value":"+4.2%","unit":"Compound Annual","trend":{"direction":"down","value":"↓ from 4.5%"}},{"label":"Total Observations","value":"952","unit":"Monthly, Jan 1947–"}],"series":[{"key":"value","label":"CPI-U"}],"observation_count":26,"observations":[{"period":"Jan 2021","value":261.6},{"period":"Apr 2021","value":264.9},{"period":"Jul 2021","value":271.7},{"period":"Oct 2021","value":276.6},{"period":"Jan 2022","value":281.9},{"period":"Apr 2022","value":289.1},{"period":"Jul 2022","value":296.3},{"period":"Oct 2022","value":298},{"period":"Jan 2023","value":299.1},{"period":"Apr 2023","value":301.8},{"period":"Jul 2023","value":303.5},{"period":"Oct 2023","value":307},{"period":"Jan 2024","value":308.4},{"period":"Apr 2024","value":313.5},{"period":"Jul 2024","value":314.5},{"period":"Oct 2024","value":315.7},{"period":"Jan 2025","value":317.7},{"period":"Apr 2025","value":320.8},{"period":"Jul 2025","value":323},{"period":"Dec 2025","value":324.1},{"period":"Jan 2026","value":325.3},{"period":"Feb 2026","value":326.8},{"period":"Mar 2026","value":330.2},{"period":"Apr 2026","value":333},{"period":"May 2026","value":335.1},{"period":"Jun 2026","value":334}],"table":{"columns":[{"key":"period","label":"Period"},{"key":"cpiIndex","label":"CPI Index"},{"key":"growth","label":"Growth (YoY)"},{"key":"coreInflation","label":"Core Inflation"}],"rows":[{"period":"Q2 2026","cpiIndex":"334.0","growth":"+3.9%","coreInflation":"2.7%"},{"period":"Q1 2026","cpiIndex":"327.4","growth":"+2.7%","coreInflation":"3.3%"},{"period":"Q4 2025","cpiIndex":"324.6","growth":"+2.8%","coreInflation":"3.3%"},{"period":"Q3 2025","cpiIndex":"323.9","growth":"+2.9%","coreInflation":"3.0%"},{"period":"Q2 2025","cpiIndex":"321.6","growth":"+2.4%","coreInflation":"2.9%"},{"period":"Q1 2025","cpiIndex":"318.9","growth":"+2.7%","coreInflation":"3.1%"},{"period":"Q4 2024","cpiIndex":"315.6","growth":"+2.8%","coreInflation":"3.3%"}]},"qa":[{"question":"What is the CPI-U and how is it measured?","answer":"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."},{"question":"How do financial professionals use CPI data?","answer":"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."},{"question":"What is the difference between CPI-U and Core CPI?","answer":"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."}]}