US core CPI, 1957 to 2026
US core CPI stood at 336 in 2026, down 0.0% on the previous period.
The latest reading is an index level of 336.1, for May 2026, against an index level of 335.4 in April 2026. The series is monthly (FRED series CPILFESL) and runs from January 1957.
How it is measured
The Consumer Price Index excluding food and energy, indexed to 1982-84 = 100. Food and fuel prices swing with weather and geopolitics; stripping them out exposes the underlying trend that policy can actually address, which is why economists quote core alongside headline. The data reaches us through FRED, the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis's data service, and originates with the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What the curve shows
Core runs smoother than the headline index by construction. The level moved from 28.5 to 336.1 across the window; when core accelerates, inflation has spread beyond volatile categories into rents and services, and is harder to reverse.
What does the index level mean?
Why show the level instead of the change?
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