Washington, DC...The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.9 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in March, 
after rising 0.3 percent in February, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the 
all items index increased 3.3 percent before seasonal adjustment.



The index for energy rose 10.9 percent in March, led by a 21.2-percent increase in the index for gasoline which 
accounted for nearly three quarters of the monthly all items increase. The shelter index also increased in March, 
rising 0.3 percent. The index for food was unchanged over the month as the index for food away from home rose 0.2 
percent, while the index for food at home fell 0.2 percent. 

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in March. Indexes that increased over the month include 
airline fares, apparel, household furnishings and operations, education, and new vehicles. Conversely, the indexes for 
medical care, personal care, and used cars and trucks were among the major indexes that decreased in March.

The all items index rose 3.3 percent for the 12 months ending March, after rising 2.4 percent for the 12 months ending
February. The all items less food and energy index rose 2.6 percent over the year, following a 2.5-percent increase over
the 12 months ending February. The energy index increased 12.5 percent for the 12 months ending March. The food index 
increased 2.7 percent over the last year. 

Food

The index for food was unchanged in March after rising 0.4 percent in February. The food at home index declined 0.2 
percent over the month. Four of the six major grocery store food group indexes decreased in March. The index for meats, 
poultry, fish, and eggs decreased 0.6 percent over the month as the index for eggs declined 3.4 percent. The cereals and 
bakery products index also decreased 0.6 percent in March, as did the dairy and related products index. The index for 
nonalcoholic beverages fell 0.3 percent over the month.

In contrast, the fruits and vegetables index rose 1.0 percent in March. The index for other food at home was unchanged 
over the month.

The food away from home index rose 0.2 percent in March. The index for full service meals rose 0.3 percent over the 
month and the index for limited service meals rose 0.2 percent.

The food at home index rose 1.9 percent over the 12 months ending in March. The index for other food at home rose 2.9 
percent over the last 12 months. The fruits and vegetables index increased 4.0 percent over the same period and the 
nonalcoholic beverages index rose 4.7 percent. The index for cereals and bakery products increased 2.1 percent over the 
12 months ending in March. In contrast, the dairy and related products index fell 1.6 percent over the year and the 
meats, poultry, fish, and eggs index decreased 0.9 percent over the same period.

The food away from home index rose 3.8 percent over the last year. The index for full service meals rose 4.3 percent and 
the index for limited service meals rose 3.2 percent over the same period. 

Energy

The index for energy increased 10.9 percent in March, the largest monthly increase in the index since September 2005. 
The gasoline index increased 21.2 percent over the month, the largest monthly increase since the series was first 
published in 1967. (Before seasonal adjustment, gasoline prices increased 24.9 percent in March.) The index for 
electricity rose 0.8 percent in March. The fuel oil index increased 30.7 percent over the month, the largest monthly 
increase in the index since February 2000. Conversely, the index for natural gas decreased 0.9 percent over the month.

The index for energy increased 12.5 percent over the past 12 months and the index for gasoline rose 18.9 percent. The 
electricity index increased 4.6 percent over the last 12 months and the natural gas index rose 6.4 percent. 

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in March, as it did in February. The shelter index 
increased 0.3 percent over the month as did the owners' equivalent rent index. The index for rent increased 0.2 percent 
in March. The lodging away from home index rose 0.2 percent over the month.

The index for airline fares increased 2.7 percent over the month, after rising 1.4 percent in February. The apparel 
index rose 1.0 percent in March and the household furnishings and operations index rose 0.2 percent. The index for 
education rose 0.3 percent over the month and the index for new vehicles rose 0.1 percent in March.

The medical care index decreased 0.2 percent in March, after rising 0.5 percent in February. The index for prescription 
drugs decreased 1.5 percent over the month. Conversely, the physicians' services index increased 0.7 percent over the 
month and the hospital services index rose 0.4 percent. 

The personal care index declined 0.5 percent in March and the used cars and trucks index decreased 0.4 percent over the 
month. The index for recreation and the index for motor vehicle insurance were both unchanged over the month.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 2.6 percent over the past 12 months. The shelter index increased 3.0 
percent over the last year. Other indexes with notable increases over the last year include medical care (+3.1 percent), 
household furnishings and operations (+4.0 percent), airline fares (+14.9 percent), and recreation (+2.2 percent).

Not seasonally adjusted CPI measures

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 3.3 percent over the last 12 months to an index level 
of 330.213 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index increased 1.0 percent prior to seasonal adjustment.  

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 3.3 percent over the last 12 
months to an index level of 323.500 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index increased 1.3 percent prior to seasonal 
adjustment.  

The Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) increased 3.1 percent over the last 12 months. For 
the month, the index increased 1.1 percent on a not seasonally adjusted basis. Please note that the indexes for the 
past 10 to 12 months are subject to revision. 
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The Consumer Price Index for April 2026 is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. (ET).