Consumer prices up 2.4 percent over year ended February 2026

From February 2025 to February 2026, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 2.4 percent. Food prices increased 3.1 percent as prices for food at home rose 2.4 percent and prices for food away from home rose 3.9 percent. Energy prices increased 0.5 percent and the index for all items less food and energy increased 2.5 percent.

Despite a 42.1-percent drop in the price of eggs, the meats, poultry, fish, and eggs index rose 0.4 percent over the year ended February 2026. Prices for other categories of food at home, including nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials (5.6 percent), other food at home (3.3 percent), cereals and bakery products (2.7 percent), and fruits and vegetables (2.7 percent), also increased over the year. Within food away from home, prices increased for full service meals and snacks (4.6 percent) and limited service meals and snacks (3.2 percent).

From February 2025 to February 2026, prices for energy services increased 6.3 percent as natural gas prices rose 10.9 percent and electricity prices rose 4.8 percent. In contrast, prices for gasoline (an energy commodity) fell 5.6 percent.

Within all items less food and energy, prices for commodities less food and energy increased 1.0 percent and prices for services less energy increased 2.9 percent. Price increases for services included 4.1 percent for medical care services, 3.0 percent for shelter, and 2.2 percent for transportation services.

These data are from the Consumer Price Index program and are not seasonally adjusted. To learn more, see "Consumer Price Index — February 2026." Also see these charts of consumer prices data.