The annual core inflation rate in the United States, which excludes food and energy, rose to 2.8% in April 2026 from 2.6% in March, slightly above market expectations of 2.7%. This marked the highest core inflation rate since September of the previous year.
Prices increased notably for services excluding energy services (3.3%), driven by higher costs for shelter (3.3%) and transportation services (4.3%). In addition, apparel prices climbed 4.2%. By contrast, price gains for new vehicles were modest (0.2%), while prices for used cars and trucks fell sharply (-2.7%).
On a monthly basis, core consumer prices rose 0.4%, the largest increase since January 2025.
