The US Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) rose 0.3% in February 2026 following a 0.2% increase in January, with the 12-month increase holding steady at 2.4%, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.
The monthly gain was led by shelter (+0.2%), food (+0.4%), and energy (+0.6%). Within food, grocery prices rose 0.5%, while dining out increased 0.3%. Energy saw higher gasoline (+0.8%) and natural gas (+3.1%) prices, partially offset by lower electricity (-0.7%).
Excluding food and energy, the CPI increased 0.2% in February and 2.5% over the past year, with notable rises in medical care, apparel, household goods, and airline fares. Conversely, communication, used cars, motor vehicle insurance, and personal care saw declines.
Annual inflation trends remain moderate, with food up 3.1%, energy up 0.5%, and shelter rising 3.0% over the year. The CPI for Urban Wage Earners (CPI-W) and the Chained CPI (C-CPI-U) both increased 2.2% over the past 12 months.
