10.04.202612:30:00UTC+00US Core CPI Edges Up to 2.6% in March, Signaling Slight Firming in Underlying Inflation

The U.S. core Consumer Price Index (CPI) in March 2026 rose 2.6% year-over-year, a modest uptick from February’s 2.5% annual increase. The data, updated on 10 April 2026, indicate a slight firming in underlying inflation pressures, which exclude volatile food and energy components.

On a year-over-year comparison basis, the March reading shows that core inflation is running just above the prior month’s pace, suggesting that while price growth remains relatively contained, disinflationary momentum may be slowing. February 2026’s 2.5% figure had marked a lower rate of core price growth versus the same month a year earlier, but March’s data hint at a mild re-acceleration compared with March 2025.

Market participants and policymakers closely track core CPI as a gauge of underlying price dynamics. The incremental move from 2.5% to 2.6% will likely feed into ongoing discussions about the trajectory of U.S. inflation and the potential timing and pace of any future monetary policy adjustments.