March 2026 Consumer Price Index

Historical release narrative reproduced from the official public-domain source. Statistical tables, standard technical appendices, administrative material and attendance rosters are omitted; formatting is adapted for reading. Figures retain the release's historical context and may have been revised. Consult the linked source for the complete document.

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.

Rebasing of Selected Consumer Price Index Series

With the publication of April 2026 data on May 12, 2026, several CPI series will be rebased to December 2024 = 100. When new base years are introduced, BLS recalculates each index back to the beginning of that series to ensure continuity. A complete list of indexes to be rebased is available at www.bls.gov/cpi/additional-resources/rebased-series.htm