Core CPI
Core CPI is up 2.6% from a year ago and has held roughly steady over the last 3 months. That is in its normal range: higher than 73% of readings since 2006.
Latest (vs. a year ago)
2.6%
As of
Sep 2026
3-month change
0.00 % pts
1-year change
−0.45 % pts
20-year percentile
73rd
20-year median
2.2%
What it is. Inflation without food and energy; shows the underlying trend. A higher reading means more inflation pressure in the Inflation reading. Shown as the change from a year earlier.
What it affects next
It is close to normal and not moving much, so there is no ripple to trace right now.
What is driving it
None of its tested drivers is moving much right now.
All tested links
Sticky core inflation keeps the Fed from cutting. Typical lag: months. Strongest match in the same period (correlation 0.36, 368 observations since 1996).
Source: BLS via FRED (series CPILFESL).