Inflation report
The March 2021 inflation report in charts
Consumer prices were 2.6% higher in March 2021 than a year earlier. That inflation rate was up from 1.7% in February 2021 and up from 1.5% in March 2020. Rent was 1.8% higher than a year earlier. Average hourly pay was 4.5% higher than a year earlier.
Inflation rate
2.6%
Up from 1.7% in February 2021
Rent, change over 12 months
1.8%
Down from 2.0% in February 2021
Hourly pay, change over 12 months
4.5%
$30.03 an hour on average
The inflation rate, Mar 2019 to Mar 2021
The interactive chart needs JavaScript. The numbers are in the table below.
How fast rent is rising, Mar 2019 to Mar 2021
The interactive chart needs JavaScript. The numbers are in the table below.
How fast hourly pay is rising, Mar 2019 to Mar 2021
The interactive chart needs JavaScript. The numbers are in the table below.
The numbers
Each month to March 2021, newest first. A dash means BLS published no figure.
| Month | Inflation rate | Rent, 12-month change | Hourly pay, 12-month change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2021 | 2.6% | 1.8% | 4.5% |
| Feb 2021 | 1.7% | 2.0% | 5.3% |
| Jan 2021 | 1.4% | 2.1% | 5.3% |
| Dec 2020 | 1.4% | 2.3% | 5.4% |
| Nov 2020 | 1.2% | 2.4% | 4.6% |
| Oct 2020 | 1.2% | 2.7% | 4.6% |
| Sep 2020 | 1.4% | 2.7% | 4.8% |
| Aug 2020 | 1.3% | 2.9% | 4.8% |
| Jul 2020 | 1.0% | 3.1% | 4.9% |
| Jun 2020 | 0.6% | 3.2% | 5.0% |
| May 2020 | 0.1% | 3.5% | 6.6% |
| Apr 2020 | 0.3% | 3.5% | 8.1% |
| Mar 2020 | 1.5% | 3.7% | 3.5% |
| Feb 2020 | 2.3% | 3.8% | 3.1% |
| Jan 2020 | 2.5% | 3.8% | 3.0% |
| Dec 2019 | 2.3% | 3.7% | 3.0% |
| Nov 2019 | 2.1% | 3.7% | 3.3% |
| Oct 2019 | 1.8% | 3.7% | 3.2% |
| Sep 2019 | 1.7% | 3.8% | 3.1% |
| Aug 2019 | 1.7% | 3.7% | 3.4% |
| Jul 2019 | 1.8% | 3.8% | 3.4% |
| Jun 2019 | 1.6% | 3.9% | 3.5% |
| May 2019 | 1.8% | 3.7% | 3.3% |
| Apr 2019 | 2.0% | 3.8% | 3.3% |
| Mar 2019 | 1.9% | 3.7% | 3.4% |
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Sources and notes
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index (CPI-U, all items) (Public domain (U.S. government work)), data as of September 30, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index (rent of primary residence) (Public domain (U.S. government work)), data as of September 30, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics (average hourly earnings of all employees, total private) (Public domain (U.S. government work)), data as of September 30, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) (Public domain (U.S. government work)), data as of September 30, 2026.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes each month's Consumer Price Index around the middle of the next month. The inflation rate is how much the index for all items (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted) changed from the same month a year earlier; rent and everyday items are measured the same way. BLS collected no prices in October 2025, during a lapse in federal funding, so there is no inflation rate for that month or for the year to October 2026. Hourly pay is BLS's average hourly earnings of private-sector employees.