February US Consumer Prices Rise as Expected, Year-Over-Year Rate Unchanged

08:47 AM EDT, 03/11/2026 (MT Newswires) -- The US seasonally adjusted consumer price index, a measure of inflation, rose by 0.3% in February, as expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:20 am ET and following a 0.2% increase in January, according to data released Wednesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Core CPI, which excludes food and energy prices, rose by 0.2%, as expected and slower than a 0.3% gain in January.

Food prices increased by 0.4%, while energy prices were up 0.6%. Gasoline prices jumped by 0.8%.

Owners' equivalent rents increased by 0.2%, while regular rents increased by 0.1%. There were also notable gains in apparel, medical care services and transportation services. Prices of medical care commodities and new vehicles were flat and prices of used cars fell by 0.4%.

CPI excluding food, energy and shelter increased by 0.2% after a 0.4% gain in the previous month.

The year-over-year rates for overall and core CPI were unchanged from the previous 2.4% and 2.5% rates, respectively.

The monthly consumer price index, or CPI, reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, measures the index level of prices paid by consumers for a basket of goods and services such as food, energy, vehicle, medical care, apparel, and housing.

The core measure, which excludes food and energy due to their volatility, is closely watched by markets and the Federal Reserve as a sign of underlying inflation pressures.

Rising inflation is a sign of strong US consumer demand, but both stocks and bond normally react negatively to level of price growth that would necessitate higher interest rates.

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