Reviewed
Last reviewed on 2026-03-28 for clarity and source alignment.
Indicator
US CPI
Live indicator snapshot with context and links.
Latest value
327.5
Source: FRED
What This Indicator Measures
Headline consumer price index level for the US economy.
US CPI is currently 327.5. The raw number matters, but the broader takeaway comes from how it affects policy expectations, growth assumptions, and market pricing.
Readers often search for a live value without realizing the release cadence differs by series. Policy rates can stay unchanged for long stretches, CPI usually updates monthly, and exchange rates can move much more frequently. That is why the update date is shown alongside the latest reading.
Why This Matters
- Tracks inflation that affects household purchasing power.
- Guides rate decisions and market expectations.
- Shapes wage and pricing behavior.
How To Read This Signal
- A faster CPI pace can strengthen expectations for tighter policy and higher real-world cost pressure.
- A softer reading matters most when it confirms a broader cooling trend rather than one volatile month.
- Readers should compare headline CPI with core inflation and wage trends.
How To Use This Page
Use this page when you need the current reading and a plain-language explanation of what the series means. If you want broader concept coverage, open the related Explained pages. If you want a search-friendly snapshot page around the same topic, use the related Today pages from the dashboard.
Use this page when you want the most searched inflation reading first, then move to core CPI if you need a better sense of underlying pressure.