Core consumer prices in the United States rose 0.2% month-over-month in February 2026, easing from a 0.3% increase in January, according to data updated on 11 March 2026. The core Consumer Price Index (CPI) excludes volatile food and energy components and is closely watched as a gauge of underlying inflation trends.
The February reading indicates a modest slowdown in price pressures compared with the previous month. In January 2026, the core CPI had increased 0.3% over December, while February’s 0.2% gain reflects a softer pace of monthly inflation when comparing each month to the one immediately before it.
On a month-over-month basis, the “actual” February figure is measured against January, while the “previous” January figure is measured against December, highlighting a marginal cooling in sequential inflation momentum heading into late winter 2026.
