U.S. Inflation Statistics (2026)
Last updated July 14, 2026 · June CPI: 3.5% year over year · -0.4% month over month (seasonally adjusted) · Core CPI: 2.6%
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 | 3.4% |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (CPI-U, YoY % change)
| Category | Then | Now | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Inflation Index | 254 (2019) | 333 (2026) | +31% |
| CPI Inflation Rate | 1.8% (2019) | 3.4% (2026) | +1.6 pts |
| The Gas Pump Index | $2.19/gal (2020) | $3.22/gal (2025) | +47% |
| The Rent Index | $1,362/mo (2019) | $1,962/mo (2026) | +44% |
| The Egg Index | $1.40 (2019) | $2.19 (2026) | +56% |
| The Ground Beef Index | $3.77/lb (2017) | $6.89/lb (2026) | +83% |
| The Wages Index | $28.00/hr (2019) | $37.62/hr (2026) | +34% |
| The Auto Insurance Index | $1,630/yr (2019) | $2,237/yr (2026) | +37% |
| The Electricity Index | 13.0¢/kWh (2019) | 19.7¢/kWh (2026) | +52% |
| The Restaurant Index | $12.00 (2015) | $18.82 (2026) | +57% |
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). The AAA national average was $3.998 on July 19, 2026 — about 54% above the roughly $2.60 annual average in 2019, though below the late-May 2026 peak.
Gas Prices by State → | Gas vs Oil Prices →U.S. typical rent (Zillow ZORI) rose from $1,362/month in January 2019 to $1,965 as of June 2026 — a 44% increase. 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 current tracker stories include eggs (+57% from the 2019 annual average) and ground beef (+81% from the 2017 tracker baseline). Some categories have corrected (chicken wings -28%), but most grocery staples remain well above pre-pandemic levels.
Grocery Price Changes → | Prices by Item →Seasonally adjusted average hourly earnings rose from the tracker’s $28.00/hr 2019 baseline to $37.64/hr in June 2026 — a 34% increase. CPI was about 31% above January 2019, so this broad average narrowly outpaced cumulative inflation. Individual workers can experience very different results, and changes in the mix of jobs also affect average earnings.
Wages vs Inflation → | Wages Index →