Core CPI (all items less food and energy), United States
Core CPI (all items less food and energy) was 338.9 in September 2026, up 0.3% from August 2026 and up 2.6% from a year earlier. The figure is published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in CPI. The series starts in January 2006 and has 248 observations. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- On the previous reading (August 2026): up 0.3%, to 338.9
- On a year earlier (September 2025): up 2.6%
- Against the five-year average of 314.2: above
Sparklines: the last ten years; the amber dot marks the reading in the tile. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. EconoMonitor is not affiliated with or endorsed by BLS.
Overview
Over the last five years the series ranged from 279.7 (September 2021) to 338.9 (September 2026). Since January 2006 the full range is 203.2 (January 2006) to 338.9 (September 2026).
Key facts
| Reading | Period | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Latest | September 2026 | 338.9 |
| Previous | August 2026 | 337.8 |
| A year earlier | September 2025 | 330.4 |
| Five-year high | September 2026 | 338.9 |
| Five-year low | September 2021 | 279.7 |
| First observation | January 2006 | 203.2 |
Unit: index (1982-84 = 100). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. EconoMonitor is not affiliated with or endorsed by BLS.
How has it moved since January 2006?
Full history
- Core CPI (all items less food and energy) 339
Last five years
- Core CPI (all items less food and energy) 339
Latest readings
| Period | Value | Change from previous |
|---|---|---|
| August 2025 | 329.7 | +0.3% |
| September 2025 | 330.4 | +0.2% |
| November 2025 | 331.0 | +0.2% |
| December 2025 | 331.8 | +0.2% |
| January 2026 | 332.8 | +0.3% |
| February 2026 | 333.5 | +0.2% |
| March 2026 | 334.2 | +0.2% |
| April 2026 | 335.4 | +0.4% |
| May 2026 | 336.1 | +0.2% |
| June 2026 | 336.1 | 0.0% |
| July 2026 | 336.8 | +0.2% |
| August 2026 | 337.8 | +0.3% |
| September 2026 | 338.9 | +0.3% |
How does the latest reading compare?
The latest reading of 338.9 in September 2026 is above its five-year average of 314.2 and above its ten-year average of 287.8. It is higher than 100% of all 248 readings since January 2006. It has risen for 3 readings in a row up to September 2026. Over the last 12 readings, from September 2025 to September 2026, it averaged 334.6, with a high of 338.9 in September 2026 and a low of 330.4 in September 2025. In the last ten years the largest rise from one reading to the next was in April 2021, to 273.7 from 271.5 in March 2021, and the largest fall was in April 2020, to 265.7 from 267.1 in March 2020.
Among the last 8 complete years, the average was highest in 2024, at 319.0, and lowest in 2017, at 252.2.
Year by year
| Year | Average | Low | High | Last reading | Readings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 335.7 | 332.8 | 338.9 | 338.9 September 2026 | 9 |
| 2025 | 328.0 | 324.6 | 331.8 | 331.8 December 2025 | 11 |
| 2024 | 319.0 | 314.3 | 323.3 | 323.3 December 2024 | 12 |
| 2023 | 308.4 | 302.6 | 313.2 | 313.2 December 2023 | 12 |
| 2022 | 294.3 | 286.8 | 301.4 | 301.4 December 2022 | 12 |
| 2021 | 277.3 | 270.4 | 285.2 | 285.2 December 2021 | 12 |
| 2020 | 267.7 | 265.4 | 270.3 | 270.3 December 2020 | 12 |
| 2019 | 263.2 | 260.8 | 266.0 | 266.0 December 2019 | 12 |
| 2018 | 257.6 | 255.2 | 260.1 | 260.1 December 2018 | 12 |
| 2017 | 252.2 | 250.5 | 254.3 | 254.3 December 2017 | 12 |
Averages, lows and highs are calculated by EconoMonitor from the published readings. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. EconoMonitor is not affiliated with or endorsed by BLS.
How is it measured?
CPI-U all items less food and energy, seasonally adjusted.
Core CPI (all items less food and energy) is published monthly by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in its CPI release. It is measured in index (1982-84 = 100) and is seasonally adjusted. EconoMonitor holds all 248 readings since January 2006 under the publisher's code CUSR0000SA0L1E, keeps earlier values when the publisher revises them, and compares each release with the downloaded file before it is shown.
- Frequency: monthly; seasonal adjustment: SA.
- Unit: index (1982-84 = 100).
- Release: CPI, published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Source series code: CUSR0000SA0L1E.
- Methodology: how EconoMonitor stores and checks this series.
Questions and sources
What is the latest reading of Core CPI (all items less food and energy)?
338.9 in September 2026, as published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
How often is it updated?
Monthly, with each CPI release. EconoMonitor reloads the series after each release and keeps earlier values when the publisher revises them.
Where can I check it?
At the publisher: Bureau of Labor Statistics Public Data API v1, series code CUSR0000SA0L1E.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. EconoMonitor is not affiliated with or endorsed by BLS. Checks for this release: Check A passed, Check B passed.
Data and analysis only, not financial advice. Data publishers do not endorse EconoMonitor. See the disclaimer and methodology.