The US core inflation rate, excluding volatile food and fuel costs, climbed to 2.9% year-over-year in May 2026, matching market forecasts and reaching its highest level since September 2025. Key drivers included shelter (+3.4%), transportation services (+4.1%), medical care services (+3.6%), and apparel (+4.8%), while used cars and trucks (-2.0%) and medical care commodities (-1.8%) declined. Month-over-month, core consumer prices rose 0.2% in May, following a 0.4% increase in April, slightly below expectations of 0.3%. source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Core consumer prices in the United States increased 2.90 percent in May of 2026 over the same month in the previous year. Core Inflation Rate in the United States averaged 3.61 percent from 1957 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 13.60 percent in June of 1980 and a record low of 0.00 percent in May of 1957. This page provides - United States Core Inflation Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. United States Core Inflation Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on June of 2026.

Core consumer prices in the United States increased 2.90 percent in May of 2026 over the same month in the previous year. Core Inflation Rate in the United States is expected to be 2.80 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the United States Core Inflation Rate is projected to trend around 2.60 percent in 2027 and 2.40 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-05-12 12:30 PM
Core Inflation Rate YoY
Apr 2.8% 2.6% 2.7% 2.6%
2026-06-10 12:30 PM
Core Inflation Rate YoY
May 2.9% 2.8% 2.9% 2.9%
2026-07-14 12:30 PM
Core Inflation Rate YoY
Jun 2.9% 2.8%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
CPI 335.12 333.02 points May 2026
Core Consumer Prices 336.12 335.42 points May 2026
Core Inflation Rate YoY 2.90 2.80 percent May 2026
Core Inflation Rate MoM 0.20 0.40 percent May 2026
CPI Core Core YoY 2.70 2.60 percent May 2026
CPI Housing Utilities 358.39 357.35 points May 2026
CPI s.a 333.98 332.41 points May 2026
CPI Transportation 298.41 291.75 points May 2026
Export Prices 168.60 166.50 points May 2026
Export Prices MoM 1.30 3.50 percent May 2026
Export Prices YoY 11.20 8.80 percent May 2026
Food Inflation 3.10 3.20 percent May 2026
Import Prices 150.50 147.70 points May 2026
Import Prices MoM 1.90 2.00 percent May 2026
Import Prices YoY 6.70 4.20 percent May 2026
Inflation Rate YoY 4.20 3.80 percent May 2026
Inflation Rate MoM 0.50 0.60 percent May 2026
PPI MoM 1.10 1.10 percent May 2026
PPI 157.66 156.01 points May 2026
PPI YoY 6.50 5.70 percent May 2026


United States Core Inflation Rate
In the United States, the core inflation rate tracks changes in prices that consumers pay for a basket of goods which excludes volatile food and fuel costs.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
2.90 2.80 13.60 0.00 1957 - 2026 percent Monthly
1982-1984=100, NSA

News Stream
US Core Inflation Hits Seven-Month High
The US core inflation rate, excluding volatile food and fuel costs, climbed to 2.9% year-over-year in May 2026, matching market forecasts and reaching its highest level since September 2025. Key drivers included shelter (+3.4%), transportation services (+4.1%), medical care services (+3.6%), and apparel (+4.8%), while used cars and trucks (-2.0%) and medical care commodities (-1.8%) declined. Month-over-month, core consumer prices rose 0.2% in May, following a 0.4% increase in April, slightly below expectations of 0.3%.
2026-06-10
US Core Inflation Rises to 7-Month High
The annual core inflation rate in the United States, which excludes food and energy, rose to 2.8% in April of 2026 from 2.6% in the previous month, slightly above market expectations of 2.7%. It was the sharpest core inflation rate since September of last year. Prices rose sharply for services less energy services (3.3%) amid higher costs for shelter (3.3%) and transportation services (4.3%). IN turn, prices rose sharply for apparel (4.2%), while they fell rose less for new vehicles (0.2%) and tumbled for used cars and trucks (-2.7%). From the previous month, core consumer prices rose by 0.4%, the sharpest increase since January 2025.
2026-05-12
US Core Inflation Rises Less than Expected
The annual core inflation rate in the United States, which excludes food and energy, rose to 2.6% in March of 2026 from 2.5% in the previous two months, slightly below market expectations that it would have risen to 2.7%. Inflation was high for services that exclude energy services (3%), including shelter (3%), transportation services (4.1%), and medical care services (3.7%). Meanwhile, commodities less food and energy inflation was at 2.6%, as higher rates for apparel (3.4%) offset the decline in price of used cars and trucks (-3.2%).
2026-04-10