Updated: 10-Apr-26 09:22 ET
Highlights
- Total CPI was up 0.9% month-over-month in March (Briefing.com consensus: 0.7%) following a 0.3% increase in February.
- Core CPI, which excludes food and energy, was up 0.2% month-over-month (Briefing.com consensus: 0.3%) following a 0.2% increase in February.
- Total CPI was up 3.3% year-over-year, versus 2.4% in February, and core CPI was up 2.6% year-over-year, versus 2.5% in February.
- The food index was unchanged month-over-month and up 2.7% year-over-year.
- The energy index was up 10.9% month-over-month and up 12.5% year-over-year.
- The shelter index was up 0.3% month-over-month and up 3.0% year-over-year.
- The used cars and trucks index was down 0.4% month-over-month and down 3.2% year-over-year.
- The apparel index was up 1.0% month-over-month and up 3.4% year-over-year.
- The services index was up 3.1% year-over-year (services less rent of shelter was up 3.4% year-over-year).
- The all items index less food, shelter, and energy was up 2.3% year-over-year.
- The key takeaway from the report is that headline inflation was driven by the index for energy, which rose 10.9% in March, and although core inflation was seemingly subdued in March, the concern is that the energy price shock will bleed through more to core inflation in April.
| Category | MAR | FEB | JAN | DEC | NOV |
| All Items | 0.9% | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.3% | -- |
| Food and Beverages | 0.0% | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0.6% | -- |
| Housing | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.4% | -- |
| Equivalent Rent | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.3% | -- |
| Apparel | 1.0% | 1.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | -- |
| Transportation | 4.3% | 0.2% | -0.3% | 0.0% | -- |
| Vehicles | -0.1% | -0.1% | -0.5% | -0.3% | -- |
| Motor Fuel | 21.2% | 0.8% | -3.2% | -0.3% | 2.7% |
| Medical Care | -0.2% | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.4% | -- |
| Educ and Commun | 0.2% | -0.2% | 0.4% | -0.9% | -- |
| Special Indices | |||||
| Core | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.2% | -- |
| Energy | 10.9% | 0.6% | -1.5% | 0.3% | -- |
| Services | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 0.3% | -- |
