United States Inflation Rate1914-2021 Data | 2022-2023 Forecast | Calendar

The annual inflation rate in the US jumped to 2.6% in March of 2021 from 1.7% in February, slightly above market forecasts of 2.5%. It is the highest reading since August of 2018 with main upward pressure coming from energy (13.2% vs 3.7% in February), namely gasoline (22.5% vs 1.6%), electricity (2.5% vs 2.3%) and utility gas service (9.8% vs 6.7%). Prices also accelerated for used cars and trucks (9.4% vs 9.3%), shelter (1.7% vs 1.5%) and new vehicles (1.5% vs 1.2%) while inflation slowed for medical care services (2.7% vs 3%) and food (3.5% vs 3.6%). Also, cost of apparel continued to fall (-2.5% vs -3.6%). The effects of the coronavirus pandemic are weighing on prices since in March 2020 many businesses closed and lockdowns were imposed, denting economic activity Also, a jump in commodities and material costs, coupled with supply constraints, are pushing producer prices up and some companies are passing those costs to clients.

Annual inflation rate in the US increased to 1.7% in February of 2021 from 1.4% in January, compared to market forecasts of 1.7%. It is the highest rate since February of 2020 with main upward pressure coming from energy cost (3.7% vs -3.6% in January), namely gasoline (1.6% vs -8.6%), electricity (2.3% vs 1.5%) and utility gas service (6.7% vs 4.3%). Prices of medical care services also increased slightly more (3% vs 2.9%). In contrast, prices slowed for food (3.6% vs 3.8%), used cars and trucks (9.3% vs 10%), shelter (1.5% vs 1.6%) and new vehicles (1.2% vs 1.4%) and cost of apparel fell more (-3.6% vs -2.5%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices were up 0.4%, also in line with expectations as gasoline went up 6.4% and accounted for over half of the increase. Annual core inflation on the other hand, came in below forecasts at 1.3%. Fed Chair Powell has been reiterating the inflation could temporarily exceed 2% although upward price pressures are likely to be temporary.

The annual inflation rate in the US was steady at 1.4% in January of 2021, the same as in December and slightly below market forecasts of 1.5%. Main upward pressure came from: food prices (3.8%), used cars and trucks (10%), utility gas service (4.3%), medical care services (2.9%), shelter (1.6%), electricity (1.5%) and new vehicles (1.4%). Meanwhile, apparel prices fell 2.5%. and energy cost went down 3.6% mainly due to gasoline (-8.6%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices went up 0.3%, in line with forecasts and following a downwardly revised 0.2% rise in December driven by a 7.4% rise in gasoline cost. The indexes for electricity and natural gas declined, but the energy index rose 3.5%. The food prices rose slightly by 0.1% as an advance in the index for food away from home more than offset a decline in the index for food at home.

Annual inflation rate in the US increased to 1.4% in December of 2020, from 1.2 percent in November and slightly higher than market forecasts of 1.3%. On a monthly basis, consumer prices increased 0.4%, higher than 0.2% in November and in line with expectations, mainly driven by an 8.4% increase in the gasoline index, which accounted for more than 60% of the overall rise. The other components of the energy index were mixed, resulting in an increase of 4.0 percent for the month. The food index rose in December, as both the food at home and the food away from home indexes increased 0.4%. The core index which excludes food and energy rose 0.1% on the month and 1.4% on the year.