US Headline Consumer Price Index (CPI)
US Headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) stood at 336.3 in Sep 2026, according to FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis). It is one of the indicators in the CPI table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Jan 1947 to Sep 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the CPI table
| Indicator | 09-2026 | 08-2026 | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headline CPI9 | 336.3 | 334.13 | 332.81 | 332.57 | 333.98 | 332.41 | 330.29 | 327.46 | 326.59 | 326.03 | |
| Core CPI (excluding food and energy) | 338.9 | 337.77 | 336.79 | 336.07 | 336.12 | 335.42 | 334.17 | 333.51 | 332.79 | 331.81 | |
| Food and beverages | 347.26 | 347.1 | 346.68 | 346.39 | 345.72 | 345.2 | 343.51 | 343.48 | 342.19 | 341.56 |
Understanding US Headline Consumer Price Index (CPI)
The headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the price level of a comprehensive basket of consumer goods and services surveyed in the US, with weights based on household expenditure patterns. This basket covers food, energy, housing, transportation, healthcare, and many other categories. Unlike the core index, the headline index retains both food and energy, thus reflecting pressure on living budgets more directly while also exhibiting greater volatility.
The index-form chart indicates relative price levels compared to a base period, rather than monetary price levels, and does not equate to the inflation rate. To assess short-term trends, month-on-month changes on seasonally adjusted series should be calculated; to mitigate seasonal influences, year-on-year comparisons are preferred. Energy prices, weather, and promotional discounts can induce significant fluctuations. When weights, sample items, or adjustment methods are updated, index levels and growth rates between versions may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
- Does a rising index mean every commodity is more expensive?
- No. The overall increase is a weighted aggregate result; the prices of certain groups may still decline.
- How does headline CPI differ from core CPI?
- Headline CPI includes food and energy, whereas core CPI excludes these two groups to reduce short-term noise.
- Can the index level be viewed as the inflation rate?
- No. Inflation must be calculated from the percentage change of the index between selected periods.