Current Inflation Rate
The latest 12-month U.S. inflation rate as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): 3.7% for September 2026. Pick any month to see its rate and the math, or scan the monthly table below.
Starts at the latest month with a 12-month rate. Pick any month back to 1914 to see its rate and how it is worked out.
Current U.S. inflation rate
3.7%
Prices rose 3.7% from September 2025 to September 2026.
BLS CPI-U, 12-month change, not seasonally adjusted, released October 14, 2026.
| Index, September 20261982–84 = 100 | 336.940 |
|---|---|
| Index, September 2025 | −324.800 |
| Difference | 12.140 |
| Divided by 324.800, times 100 | 3.738% |
| 12-month inflation rateRounded to one decimal, as BLS reports it | 3.7% |
Next release: October 2026 data on November 10, 2026, 8:30 a.m. ET.
Inflation rate by month
| Month | CPI-U index | 12-month rate |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 336.940 | 3.7% |
| Aug 2026 | 334.980 | 3.4% |
| Jul 2026 | 333.918 | 3.4% |
| Jun 2026 | 333.952 | 3.5% |
| May 2026 | 335.123 | 4.2% |
| Apr 2026 | 333.020 | 3.8% |
| Mar 2026 | 330.213 | 3.3% |
| Feb 2026 | 326.785 | 2.4% |
| Jan 2026 | 325.252 | 2.4% |
| Dec 2025 | 324.054 | 2.7% |
| Nov 2025 | 324.122 | 2.7% |
| Oct 2025 | — | — |
| Sep 2025 | 324.800 | 3.0% |
| Aug 2025 | 323.976 | 2.9% |
| Jul 2025 | 323.048 | 2.7% |
| Jun 2025 | 322.561 | 2.7% |
| May 2025 | 321.465 | 2.4% |
| Apr 2025 | 320.795 | 2.3% |
| Mar 2025 | 319.799 | 2.4% |
| Feb 2025 | 319.082 | 2.8% |
| Jan 2025 | 317.671 | 3.0% |
| Dec 2024 | 315.605 | 2.9% |
| Nov 2024 | 315.493 | 2.7% |
| Oct 2024 | 315.664 | 2.6% |
To convert a dollar amount from one year to another, use the inflation calculator.
These are BLS figures as published (CPI-U, U.S. city average, not seasonally adjusted). Leases, contracts and benefit adjustments often name a different index, area or month, so check which one yours uses. This is general information, not financial advice.
How this is calculated
The inflation rate in the news is the 12-month change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), all items, U.S. city average, before seasonal adjustment. BLS publishes it each month. The CPI-U covers over 90 percent of the U.S. population.
The rate compares the index for a month with the index for the same month a year earlier: subtract the earlier index from the later one, divide the difference by the earlier index and multiply by 100. The result is rounded to one decimal.
Example: the index for September 2026 is 336.940 and the index for September 2025 is 324.800. The difference is 12.140. Divided by 324.800 that is 0.03738, times 100 gives 3.738, so the inflation rate is 3.7%. BLS uses the same steps in its own example: December 2022 at 296.797 against December 2021 at 278.802 gives 6.5%.
Index points, not dollars
The index has a reference base of 1982–84 = 100. A value of 336.940 means prices are about 3.4 times the 1982–84 level. Only the change between two months matters.
The October 2025 gap
BLS could not collect October 2025 price data during the 2025 federal government shutdown and did not publish an October 2025 index or news release. That month shows a dash. This page does not fill the gap with an estimate. BLS has said it will not publish 12-month percent changes for October 2026 for indexes where October 2025 data are not available, and the all items index is one of them.
What this page does not show
The month-over-month change BLS reports on a seasonally adjusted basis comes from a different data series and is not shown here. Core inflation, other price indexes and forecasts are not included.
Sources
Checked against the sources below on .
- BLS: Consumer Price Index – September 2026 (released Oct 14, 2026)
- BLS: CPI-U All items, series CUUR0000SA0 (data through Sep 2026)
- BLS: 2025 shutdown impact on the CPI, FAQ (Sep 16, 2026)
- BLS: How to Calculate Percent Changes in the CPI (Feb 9, 2023)
- BLS: CPI release schedule (as of Oct 28, 2026)
- BLS: CPI Frequently Asked Questions (Sep 25, 2025)
Questions people ask
What is the current inflation rate in the U.S.?
3.7% for the 12 months ending September 2026, as reported by BLS (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted, released October 14, 2026).
When is the next CPI inflation report?
BLS plans to publish October 2026 data on November 10, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. ET. Because BLS will not publish a 12-month rate for October 2026, the next 12-month rate (November 2026) is due December 10, 2026.
How is the inflation rate calculated?
Take the CPI-U for a month, subtract the index for the same month a year earlier, divide by that earlier index and multiply by 100. For September 2026: (336.940 − 324.800) ÷ 324.800 × 100 = 3.7%.
Why is there no inflation rate for October 2025?
BLS could not collect October 2025 price data during the 2025 federal government shutdown. It published no October 2025 index and no news release for that month.
Will there be an inflation rate for October 2026?
BLS has said it will not publish 12-month percent changes for October 2026 for indexes where October 2025 data are not available. The October 2025 all items index is missing.
Is the CPI the same as the inflation rate?
No. The CPI is an index (1982–84 = 100). The inflation rate is the percent change in that index, usually over 12 months.