US Median CPI
US Median CPI stood at 2.8% 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 1983 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-month change, annualized | |||||||||||
| Median CPI | 2.8 | 2.1 | 3.1 | 2.1 | 3.7 | 4.9 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 3.1 | |
| 16% trimmed-mean CPI | 3.5 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 0.1 | 3.2 | 5.2 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 2.3 | 3.6 |
Understanding US Median CPI
United States Median CPI tracks the exact middle price change of all consumer goods and services categories ranked by their individual inflation rates. By isolating the central component of the price distribution, this metric prevents extreme surges or drops in specific volatile sectors from skewing the overarching gauge, setting it apart from standard weighted averages.
Interpreting this median measure involves monitoring its sequential path to gauge underlying price pressures across the broader economy. Observers generally focus on the annualized or twelve-month comparisons to filter out irregular monthly noise, recognizing that the index undergoes routine methodological updates to maintain accuracy.