U.S. Inflation Statistics (2026)
Comprehensive inflation data for the United States — updated with the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics releases.
CPI Inflation Rate (Year-over-Year)
| Year | Rate |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 0.1% |
| 2016 | 1.3% |
| 2017 | 2.1% |
| 2018 | 2.4% |
| 2019 | 1.8% |
| 2020 | 1.2% |
| 2021 | 4.7% |
| 2022 | 8.0% |
| 2023 | 4.1% |
| 2024 | 3.0% |
| 2025 | 2.7% |
| 2026 | 2.4% |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (CPI-U, YoY % change)
| Category | Then | Now | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Inflation Index | 254 (2019) | 327 (2026) | +28% |
| CPI Inflation Rate | 1.8% (2019) | 2.4% (2026) | +0.6 pts |
| The Gas Pump Index | $2.19/gal (2020) | $3.22/gal (2025) | +47% |
| The Rent Index | $1,340/mo (2019) | $1,895/mo (2026) | +41% |
| The Egg Index | $1.40 (2019) | $2.58 (2026) | +84% |
| The Ground Beef Index | $3.77/lb (2017) | $6.75/lb (2026) | +79% |
| The Wages Index | $28.00/hr (2019) | $35.80/hr (2025) | +28% |
| The Auto Insurance Index | $1,630/yr (2019) | $2,150/yr (2025) | +32% |
| The Electricity Index | 13.0¢/kWh (2019) | 19.2¢/kWh (2026) | +48% |
| The Restaurant Index | $12.00 (2015) | $18.10 (2025) | +51% |
The U.S. average for regular unleaded gasoline has seen significant volatility since 2019. After reaching pandemic lows of $2.19/gallon in 2020, prices surged to $3.95 in 2022 (peaking at $5.02 in June 2022) before gradually easing to $3.22 in 2025. Record domestic production and softening global demand have helped stabilize prices, but they remain about 24% above 2019 levels.
Gas Prices by State → | Gas vs Oil Prices →U.S. typical rent (Zillow ZORI) rose from $1,340/month in 2019 to a peak above $2,040 in late 2022, then moderated to $1,895 in early 2026 — still 41% above 2019. Rent is the largest component of CPI and has been one of the stickiest sources of inflation.
Rent by State → | Rent Inflation Deep Dive →Food-at-home prices have risen approximately 25% since 2019. The most dramatic stories: eggs (+84%), ground beef (+79%). Some categories have corrected (chicken wings -28%), but most grocery staples remain well above pre-pandemic levels.
Grocery Price Changes → | Prices by Item →Average hourly earnings rose from $28.00/hr in 2019 to $35.80/hr in 2025 — a 28% increase. With CPI up ~22% over the same period, real wages are slightly positive in aggregate, but the gains are unevenly distributed. Middle-income workers have been the most squeezed.
Wages vs Inflation → | Wages Index →