Consumer Prices Rose 0.4% in August, All-Items Up 3.4% YOY

Washington, DC, September 11, 2026—The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.4% on a seasonally adjusted basis in August after rising 0.1 percent in July, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Over the last 12 months, the all-items index increased 3.4% before seasonal adjustment.

The index for gasoline rose 3.9% in August, accounting for over one third of the monthly all items increase. The index for energy increased 2.1% over the month. The shelter index rose 0.3% in August after rising 0.1% in July. The index for food increased 0.1% over the month, as the index for food away from home increased 0.3%. 

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.3% after increasing 0.2% in July. Indexes that increased over the month include communication, lodging away from home, airline fares, education, and used cars and trucks. Conversely, the index for medical care and the index for motor vehicle insurance were among the major indexes that decreased in August.

The all-items index rose 3.4% for the 12 months ending August as it did for the 12 months ending July. The all-items less food and energy index rose 2.4% over the year, following a 2.5%  increase over the 12 months ending July. The energy index increased 16.3% for the 12 months ending August. The food index increased 2.7% over the last year.