The United States Core Consumer Price Index (Core CPI) rose 2.5% year-over-year in February 2026, unchanged from the 2.5% annual increase recorded in January 2026. The data, updated on 11 March 2026, indicate that underlying inflationary pressures—excluding volatile food and energy components—remain stable on a yearly comparison basis.
Both the current and previous readings reflect year-over-year comparisons, with February’s figure measured against February a year earlier and January’s against the same month a year prior. The steady 2.5% rate suggests that core inflation dynamics have neither accelerated nor cooled between January and February, offering a consistent backdrop for policymakers and investors assessing the trajectory of U.S. inflation.
