U.S. inflation rate (CPI)
3.7% over 12 months as of Sep 2026
- ▲ +0.4 pt from a month earlier 3.4% on Aug 2026
- ▲ +0.7 pt from a year earlier 3.0% on Sep 2025
What it measures
The 12-month change in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers, the headline measure of U.S. inflation.
Why it matters to a small business
It is the inflation number most people watch and a main input to where the Federal Reserve takes interest rates next. Many leases and contracts also tie their annual increases to it.
Recent readings
| Date | Change over 12 months |
|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 3.7% |
| Aug 2026 | 3.4% |
| Jul 2026 | 3.3% |
| Jun 2026 | 3.5% |
| May 2026 | 4.2% |
| Apr 2026 | 3.8% |
| Mar 2026 | 3.3% |
| Feb 2026 | 2.4% |
| Jan 2026 | 2.4% |
| Dec 2025 | 2.7% |
| Nov 2025 | 2.7% |
| Sep 2025 | 3.0% |
Source
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, series CPIAUCSL, retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Published monthly. Official figures can be revised after they are first released.