2026 CPI path: headline vs core
Year-over-year %, Feb → May 2026.
About this data
Headline CPI re-accelerated from 2.4% in February to 4.2% in May 2026 — the hottest since April 2023 — while core (ex food and energy) crept from 2.6% to 2.9%. The gap between the two lines is the tell: the spike is energy-driven, not yet broad-based, which is exactly the Fed’s dilemma.
Year-over-year %. Inflation re-accelerated through spring 2026, led by energy.
View data & sources →Data table
| month | series | headline | source_ref | value_basis | core |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2026 | cpi_path | 2.4 | cnbc-cpi-mar | Feb 2026 headline CPI 2.4% YoY (per March report comparison) | |
| Mar 2026 | cpi_path | 3.3 | cnbc-cpi-mar | Mar 2026 CPI +3.3% headline, +2.6% core YoY | 2.6 |
| Apr 2026 | cpi_path | 3.8 | cnbc-cpi-apr | Apr 2026 CPI +3.8% headline, +2.8% core YoY | 2.8 |
| May 2026 | cpi_path | 4.2 | cnbc-cpi-may | May 2026 CPI +4.2% headline (highest since Apr 2023), +2.9% core YoY | 2.9 |
Methodology & sources
Last updated: Jul 17, 2026Methodology
Source-backed values are seeded for both charts: the 2026 CPI path (headline vs core, year-over-year) and the May 2026 CPI breakdown by category. Every numeric point carries a sources[].ref and a value_basis. Figures are BLS CPI releases as reported by CNBC for each month. May 2026 headline CPI (+4.2%) was the highest since April 2023, driven by a 23.5% YoY rise in energy. CAVEAT: the Feb 2026 point shows headline only (core for that month was not in the cited reporting). Core PCE (the Fed’s preferred gauge) ran 3.3% YoY in April 2026 — noted here, not charted. Re-verified 2026-06-22.
Sources
Comparisons are informative, not definitive. See each source for definitions and limits.