Inflation report
The September 2026 inflation report in charts
Consumer prices were 3.7% higher in September 2026 than a year earlier. That inflation rate was up from 3.4% in August 2026 and up from 3.0% in September 2025. Rent was 2.8% higher than a year earlier. Among everyday items, gasoline rose the most (+34.2%) and eggs fell the most (-20.6%). Average hourly pay was 3.0% higher than a year earlier.
Inflation rate
3.7%
Up from 3.4% in August 2026
Rent, change over 12 months
2.8%
Up from 2.7% in August 2026
Hourly pay, change over 12 months
3.0%
$37.81 an hour on average
The inflation rate, Sep 2024 to Sep 2026
The interactive chart needs JavaScript. The numbers are in the table below.
How fast rent is rising, Sep 2024 to Sep 2026
The interactive chart needs JavaScript. The numbers are in the table below.
How fast hourly pay is rising, Sep 2024 to Sep 2026
The interactive chart needs JavaScript. The numbers are in the table below.
Everyday prices in the 12 months to September 2026
How much each item's price changed from a year earlier, biggest rise first. Overall inflation was 3.7%.
| Item | Change over 12 months |
|---|---|
| Gasoline | +34.2% |
| Airline fares | +22.4% |
| Coffee | +7.1% |
| Ground beef | +5.4% |
| Natural gas for homes | +5.0% |
| Electricity | +4.4% |
| Restaurant meals | +3.5% |
| Clothing | +3.4% |
| Bread | +3.3% |
| Rent | +2.8% |
| Medical care services | +2.5% |
| Milk | +2.3% |
| Groceries (food at home) | +1.8% |
| New cars and trucks | +0.6% |
| Used cars and trucks | -1.5% |
| Car insurance | -5.0% |
| Eggs | -20.6% |
The numbers
Each month to September 2026, newest first. A dash means BLS published no figure.
| Month | Inflation rate | Rent, 12-month change | Hourly pay, 12-month change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 3.7% | 2.8% | 3.0% |
| Aug 2026 | 3.4% | 2.7% | 3.1% |
| Jul 2026 | 3.4% | 2.9% | 3.2% |
| Jun 2026 | 3.5% | 2.8% | 3.4% |
| May 2026 | 4.2% | 2.9% | 3.3% |
| Apr 2026 | 3.8% | 2.8% | 3.6% |
| Mar 2026 | 3.3% | 2.6% | 3.4% |
| Feb 2026 | 2.4% | 2.7% | 3.7% |
| Jan 2026 | 2.4% | 2.8% | 3.7% |
| Dec 2025 | 2.7% | 2.9% | 3.7% |
| Nov 2025 | 2.7% | 3.0% | 3.9% |
| Oct 2025 | – | – | 3.9% |
| Sep 2025 | 3.0% | 3.4% | 3.8% |
| Aug 2025 | 2.9% | 3.5% | 4.0% |
| Jul 2025 | 2.7% | 3.5% | 4.0% |
| Jun 2025 | 2.7% | 3.8% | 3.9% |
| May 2025 | 2.4% | 3.8% | 4.0% |
| Apr 2025 | 2.3% | 4.0% | 3.9% |
| Mar 2025 | 2.4% | 4.0% | 4.2% |
| Feb 2025 | 2.8% | 4.1% | 4.1% |
| Jan 2025 | 3.0% | 4.2% | 4.0% |
| Dec 2024 | 2.9% | 4.3% | 4.1% |
| Nov 2024 | 2.7% | 4.4% | 4.2% |
| Oct 2024 | 2.6% | 4.6% | 4.0% |
| Sep 2024 | 2.4% | 4.8% | 3.9% |
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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.