Inflation · September 16, 2026 · 2 min read

U.S. Consumer Price Index Increases 0.4% in August 2026 as Energy Costs Accelerate

Published September 16, 2026 • Updated September 16, 2026

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The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.4 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in August 2026, up from 0.1 percent in July. Over the last 12 months, the all-items index grew 3.4 percent before seasonal adjustment, remaining unchanged from the annual pace recorded in July. Gasoline prices accounted for more than one-third of the monthly gain, rising 3.9 percent. Meanwhile, core CPI, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.3 percent month-over-month and 2.4 percent on a 12-month basis.

According to official statistical releases from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, headline consumer inflation experienced an uptick in August 2026, driven significantly by advances in energy components. The seasonally adjusted Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) advanced 0.4 percent month-over-month, accelerating from the 0.1 percent increase recorded in July. On an unadjusted basis, the all-items index maintained a 3.4 percent rate of growth over the 12-month period ending in August 2026, matching the annual pace observed in July. Energy prices served as a central catalyst for the headline acceleration, rising 2.1 percent over the month. Within the energy basket, gasoline prices climbed 3.9 percent in August, single-handedly contributing more than one-third of the total month-over-month gain in the headline CPI-U figure. On an annual basis, the overall energy index was up 16.3 percent relative to August of the prior year. Food prices demonstrated modest movement, rising 0.1 percent overall for the month, with food away from home increasing 0.3 percent. Excluding volatile food and energy components, the core CPI rose 0.3 percent in August on a seasonally adjusted basis, compared to a 0.2 percent increase in July. Subgroup index increases were recorded across several categories, including shelter (up 0.3 percent), communication, lodging away from home, airline fares, education, and used cars and trucks. Conversely, downward price shifts were observed in medical care and motor vehicle insurance. On a 12-month basis, core CPI inflation moderated slightly to 2.4 percent in August, down from 2.5 percent in July. These official monthly metrics provide factual evidence on price developments across goods and service categories without forecasting monetary policy outcomes or broader macroeconomic trajectories. All reported statistical indices remain subject to standard annual and seasonal revisions in accordance with Bureau of Labor Statistics methodology.

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