The U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.2% month-on-month in January 2026, marking a modest slowdown from the 0.3% increase recorded in December 2025. The latest figure, updated on 13 February 2026, suggests a slight cooling in price momentum at the start of the year.
On a month-over-month basis, the “actual” January reading compares the change in prices from December 2025 to January 2026, while the “previous” 0.3% figure reflects the change from November to December 2025. The step down from 0.3% to 0.2% indicates that consumer prices are still rising but at a somewhat softer pace than in late 2025, a development likely to feature prominently in ongoing discussions about the trajectory of U.S. inflation and monetary policy.
