US Headline CPI Index
US Headline CPI Index stood at 336.3 in Sep 2026, according to Cleveland FED; Atlanta FED; San Francisco FED; BLS. It is one of the indicators in the Alternative inflation measures table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Jan 1967 to Sep 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Alternative inflation measures table
| Indicator | 09-2026 | 08-2026 | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Index | |||||||||||
| Headline CPI index | 336.3 | 334.1 | 332.8 | 332.6 | 334 | 332.4 | 330.3 | 327.5 | 326.6 | 326 | |
| Core CPI index | 338.9 | 337.8 | 336.8 | 336.1 | 336.1 | 335.4 | 334.2 | 333.5 | 332.8 | 331.8 |
Understanding US Headline CPI Index
United States Headline Index tracks the absolute cumulative price level of the complete consumer basket over time, anchored to a designated historical benchmark period. This foundational index incorporates every measured category of consumer expenditure, including volatile food and energy components, serving as the master reference from which all headline inflation rates are computed.
Evaluating this index involves analyzing its cumulative upward slope over extended periods to understand structural changes in the cost of living. Because the raw level itself reflects compounding historical inflation rather than recent momentum, analysts convert the index data into percentage changes—preferably on a twelve-month basis—to assess current economic conditions accurately.