US inflation, food (CPI-U 12-month change) in United States

US inflation, food (CPI-U 12-month change) in the United States was 2.5% in September 2026, according to BLS. That is down 0.6 pts from September 2025.

September 20262.5%

Change on September 2025-0.6 pts

Series high13.1February 1979

Series low-0.7November 2009

Next release: Tuesday, 10 November 2026, 08:30 ET, announced by BLS. Release calendar

US inflation, food (CPI-U 12-month change) in United States, September 1976 to September 2026

%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from BLS. Retrieved 2026-10-18, published 2026-10-14.

All 600 values

Period	%
2026-09	2.5
2026-08	2.7
2026-07	3
2026-06	3
2026-05	3.1
2026-04	3.2
2026-03	2.7
2026-02	3.1
2026-01	2.9
2025-12	3.1
2025-11	2.6
2025-09	3.1
2025-08	3.2
2025-07	2.9
2025-06	3
2025-05	2.9
2025-04	2.8
2025-03	3
2025-02	2.6
2025-01	2.5
2024-12	2.5
2024-11	2.4
2024-10	2.1
2024-09	2.3
2024-08	2.1
2024-07	2.2
2024-06	2.2
2024-05	2.1
2024-04	2.2
2024-03	2.2
2024-02	2.2
2024-01	2.6
2023-12	2.7
2023-11	2.9
2023-10	3.3
2023-09	3.7
2023-08	4.3
2023-07	4.9
2023-06	5.7
2023-05	6.7
2023-04	7.7
2023-03	8.5
2023-02	9.5
2023-01	10.1
2022-12	10.4
2022-11	10.6
2022-10	10.9
2022-09	11.2
2022-08	11.4
2022-07	10.9
2022-06	10.4
2022-05	10.1
2022-04	9.4
2022-03	8.8
2022-02	7.9
2022-01	7
2021-12	6.3
2021-11	6.1
2021-10	5.3
2021-09	4.6
2021-08	3.7
2021-07	3.4
2021-06	2.4
2021-05	2.2
2021-04	2.4
2021-03	3.5
2021-02	3.6
2021-01	3.8
2020-12	3.9
2020-11	3.7
2020-10	3.9
2020-09	3.9
2020-08	4.1
2020-07	4.1
2020-06	4.5
2020-05	4
2020-04	3.5
2020-03	1.9
2020-02	1.8
2020-01	1.8
2019-12	1.8
2019-11	2
2019-10	2.1
2019-09	1.8
2019-08	1.7
2019-07	1.8
2019-06	1.9
2019-05	2
2019-04	1.8
2019-03	2.1
2019-02	2
2019-01	1.6
2018-12	1.6
2018-11	1.4
2018-10	1.2
2018-09	1.4
2018-08	1.4
2018-07	1.4
2018-06	1.4
2018-05	1.2
2018-04	1.4
2018-03	1.3
2018-02	1.4
2018-01	1.7
2017-12	1.6
2017-11	1.4
2017-10	1.3
2017-09	1.2
2017-08	1.1
2017-07	1.1
2017-06	0.9
2017-05	0.9
2017-04	0.5
2017-03	0.5
2017-02	0
2017-01	-0.2
2016-12	-0.2
2016-11	-0.4
2016-10	-0.4
2016-09	-0.3
2016-08	0
2016-07	0.2
2016-06	0.3
2016-05	0.7
2016-04	0.9
2016-03	0.8
2016-02	0.9
2016-01	0.8
2015-12	0.8
2015-11	1.3
2015-10	1.6
2015-09	1.6
2015-08	1.6
2015-07	1.6
2015-06	1.8
2015-05	1.6
2015-04	2
2015-03	2.3
2015-02	3
2015-01	3.2
2014-12	3.4
2014-11	3.2
2014-10	3.1
2014-09	3
2014-08	2.7
2014-07	2.5
2014-06	2.3
2014-05	2.5
2014-04	1.9
2014-03	1.7
2014-02	1.4
2014-01	1.1
2013-12	1.1
2013-11	1.2
2013-10	1.3
2013-09	1.4
2013-08	1.4
2013-07	1.4
2013-06	1.4
2013-05	1.4
2013-04	1.5
2013-03	1.5
2013-02	1.6
2013-01	1.6
2012-12	1.8
2012-11	1.8
2012-10	1.7
2012-09	1.6
2012-08	2
2012-07	2.3
2012-06	2.7
2012-05	2.8
2012-04	3.1
2012-03	3.3
2012-02	3.9
2012-01	4.4
2011-12	4.7
2011-11	4.6
2011-10	4.7
2011-09	4.7
2011-08	4.6
2011-07	4.2
2011-06	3.7
2011-05	3.5
2011-04	3.2
2011-03	2.9
2011-02	2.3
2011-01	1.8
2010-12	1.5
2010-11	1.5
2010-10	1.4
2010-09	1.4
2010-08	1
2010-07	0.9
2010-06	0.7
2010-05	0.7
2010-04	0.5
2010-03	0.2
2010-02	-0.2
2010-01	-0.4
2009-12	-0.5
2009-11	-0.7
2009-10	-0.6
2009-09	-0.2
2009-08	0.4
2009-07	0.9
2009-06	2.1
2009-05	2.7
2009-04	3.3
2009-03	4.4
2009-02	4.8
2009-01	5.3
2008-12	5.9
2008-11	6
2008-10	6.3
2008-09	6.2
2008-08	6.1
2008-07	6
2008-06	5.3
2008-05	5.1
2008-04	5.1
2008-03	4.5
2008-02	4.6
2008-01	4.9
2007-12	4.9
2007-11	4.8
2007-10	4.4
2007-09	4.5
2007-08	4.3
2007-07	4.2
2007-06	4.1
2007-05	3.9
2007-04	3.7
2007-03	3.3
2007-02	3.1
2007-01	2.4
2006-12	2.1
2006-11	2.3
2006-10	2.6
2006-09	2.5
2006-08	2.4
2006-07	2.2
2006-06	2.2
2006-05	1.9
2006-04	1.8
2006-03	2.6
2006-02	2.8
2006-01	2.6
2005-12	2.3
2005-11	2.2
2005-10	2.2
2005-09	2.5
2005-08	2.2
2005-07	2.1
2005-06	2.2
2005-05	2.4
2005-04	3.1
2005-03	2.5
2005-02	2.6
2005-01	2.9
2004-12	2.7
2004-11	3.2
2004-10	3.4
2004-09	3.3
2004-08	3.5
2004-07	4
2004-06	3.7
2004-05	4.1
2004-04	3.4
2004-03	3.2
2004-02	3.3
2004-01	3.5
2003-12	3.6
2003-11	3.2
2003-10	2.9
2003-09	2.4
2003-08	2.5
2003-07	2.1
2003-06	2.2
2003-05	1.7
2003-04	1.2
2003-03	1.4
2003-02	1.4
2003-01	1
2002-12	1.5
2002-11	1.3
2002-10	0.9
2002-09	1.3
2002-08	1.2
2002-07	1.4
2002-06	1.6
2002-05	1.9
2002-04	2.5
2002-03	2.6
2002-02	2.7
2002-01	2.9
2001-12	2.8
2001-11	3.4
2001-10	3.4
2001-09	3.1
2001-08	3.1
2001-07	3.2
2001-06	3.4
2001-05	3.1
2001-04	3.2
2001-03	3.1
2001-02	3
2001-01	2.9
2000-12	2.8
2000-11	2.2
2000-10	2.4
2000-09	2.6
2000-08	2.7
2000-07	2.6
2000-06	2.3
2000-05	2.2
2000-04	2
2000-03	2
2000-02	1.8
2000-01	1.5
1999-12	1.9
1999-11	1.9
1999-10	1.9
1999-09	2.2
1999-08	2
1999-07	2.1
1999-06	2.2
1999-05	2.1
1999-04	2.3
1999-03	2.3
1999-02	2.4
1999-01	2.3
1998-12	2.3
1998-11	2.3
1998-10	2.4
1998-09	2
1998-08	2.2
1998-07	2.2
1998-06	2.2
1998-05	2.4
1998-04	2
1998-03	2
1998-02	1.9
1998-01	2.2
1997-12	1.5
1997-11	1.7
1997-10	1.8
1997-09	2.1
1997-08	2.5
1997-07	2.5
1997-06	2.6
1997-05	3
1997-04	2.8
1997-03	3.3
1997-02	3.8
1997-01	3.6
1996-12	4.3
1996-11	4.4
1996-10	4
1996-09	3.8
1996-08	3.6
1996-07	3.4
1996-06	3.2
1996-05	2.5
1996-04	2.6
1996-03	2.8
1996-02	2.3
1996-01	2.4
1995-12	2.1
1995-11	2.8
1995-10	3
1995-09	2.7
1995-08	2.5
1995-07	2.7
1995-06	3.1
1995-05	3.3
1995-04	3.5
1995-03	2.9
1995-02	3.1
1995-01	2.6
1994-12	2.9
1994-11	2.4
1994-10	2.4
1994-09	2.8
1994-08	2.8
1994-07	2.8
1994-06	2.2
1994-05	1.7
1994-04	2
1994-03	2.2
1994-02	2.1
1994-01	2.8
1993-12	2.9
1993-11	2.6
1993-10	2.4
1993-09	1.9
1993-08	2
1993-07	2.3
1993-06	2.2
1993-05	2.7
1993-04	1.8
1993-03	1.4
1993-02	1.7
1993-01	1.9
1992-12	1.5
1992-11	1.5
1992-10	1.8
1992-09	1.8
1992-08	1.5
1992-07	0.5
1992-06	0.1
1992-05	0.4
1992-04	1
1992-03	1.7
1992-02	1.5
1992-01	1
1991-12	1.9
1991-11	1.6
1991-10	1.6
1991-09	2.1
1991-08	2.3
1991-07	2.9
1991-06	3.9
1991-05	4.2
1991-04	4.1
1991-03	3.3
1991-02	3.2
1991-01	4.1
1990-12	5.3
1990-11	5.6
1990-10	5.6
1990-09	5.6
1990-08	5.6
1990-07	5.7
1990-06	5.6
1990-05	5.1
1990-04	5.7
1990-03	6.5
1990-02	6.8
1990-01	6.7
1989-12	5.6
1989-11	5.6
1989-10	5.2
1989-09	4.9
1989-08	5.4
1989-07	5.6
1989-06	6.3
1989-05	6.8
1989-04	6.5
1989-03	6.6
1989-02	6.2
1989-01	5.6
1988-12	5.2
1988-11	5.3
1988-10	5.2
1988-09	5.3
1988-08	4.9
1988-07	4.5
1988-06	3.3
1988-05	3.3
1988-04	3.4
1988-03	3
1988-02	2.8
1988-01	3.2
1987-12	3.5
1987-11	3.3
1987-10	3.6
1987-09	3.6
1987-08	3.5
1987-07	4.2
1987-06	5.3
1987-05	4.9
1987-04	4.7
1987-03	4.7
1987-02	4.7
1987-01	4.2
1986-12	3.8
1986-11	4.3
1986-10	4.5
1986-09	4.3
1986-08	4.3
1986-07	3.4
1986-06	2.6
1986-05	2.6
1986-04	2.1
1986-03	1.9
1986-02	1.9
1986-01	2.8
1985-12	2.6
1985-11	2.3
1985-10	1.8
1985-09	1.8
1985-08	1.5
1985-07	2.1
1985-06	2.4
1985-05	2.5
1985-04	2.4
1985-03	2.4
1985-02	2.4
1985-01	2.6
1984-12	3.8
1984-11	3.9
1984-10	3.9
1984-09	4
1984-08	4.3
1984-07	3.8
1984-06	3.4
1984-05	3
1984-04	3.5
1984-03	4
1984-02	4.6
1984-01	3.9
1983-12	2.7
1983-11	2.2
1983-10	2
1983-09	1.7
1983-08	1.7
1983-07	1.2
1983-06	1.4
1983-05	2.5
1983-04	2.8
1983-03	2.7
1983-02	2
1983-01	2.5
1982-12	3.1
1982-11	3.4
1982-10	3.4
1982-09	3.5
1982-08	3.6
1982-07	4.5
1982-06	5.3
1982-05	4.7
1982-04	4.1
1982-03	3.9
1982-02	4.7
1982-01	4.7
1981-12	4.3
1981-11	4.8
1981-10	5.8
1981-09	6.4
1981-08	7.1
1981-07	8.4
1981-06	8.5
1981-05	8.9
1981-04	9.5
1981-03	10.1
1981-02	10.5
1981-01	10.1
1980-12	10.2
1980-11	10.6
1980-10	10.1
1980-09	10.1
1980-08	9.6
1980-07	7.6
1980-06	7.1
1980-05	6.8
1980-04	7.2
1980-03	7.4
1980-02	7.3
1980-01	8.9
1979-12	10.2
1979-11	9.8
1979-10	9.9
1979-09	9.9
1979-08	9.7
1979-07	10.1
1979-06	10
1979-05	11.4
1979-04	12
1979-03	12.8
1979-02	13.1
1979-01	12.4
1978-12	11.8
1978-11	11.2
1978-10	11.5
1978-09	10.9
1978-08	10.4
1978-07	10.6
1978-06	10.5
1978-05	9.8
1978-04	8.6
1978-03	8.2
1978-02	7.5
1978-01	8.6
1977-12	8.1
1977-11	8.1
1977-10	7.1
1977-09	7.1
1977-08	6.9
1977-07	6.8
1977-06	7
1977-05	6.5
1977-04	6.5
1977-03	5.6
1977-02	4.4
1977-01	1.5
1976-12	0.5
1976-11	0.7
1976-10	1.5
1976-09	2.1

Definition

Percent change of the CPI-U for food, US city average, not seasonally adjusted, from the same month a year earlier. Food at home and food away from home. Alcoholic beverages are a separate group.

United States only. Calculated from the index (cpi_index_food, series CUUR0000SAF1) and rounded to one decimal as BLS rounds its published 12-month changes; each value shows both index values. For all items inflation use cpi_annual_change.

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How to cite

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): food, US city average, 12-month percent change, not seasonally adjusted (calculated from CUUR0000SAF1). https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/cu/cu.data.11.USFoodBeverage. Retrieved 2026-10-18.

Citation styles

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APA 7

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2026). Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): food, US city average, 12-month percent change, not seasonally adjusted (calculated from CUUR0000SAF1) (US inflation, food (CPI-U 12-month change), United States, 1976-09 to 2026-09) [Data set]. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/cu/cu.data.11.USFoodBeverage

MLA 9

Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): food, US city average, 12-month percent change, not seasonally adjusted (calculated from CUUR0000SAF1), US inflation, food (CPI-U 12-month change), United States, 1976-09 to 2026-09. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 14 Oct. 2026, https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/cu/cu.data.11.USFoodBeverage. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/en/us-inflation-food/united-states. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2026. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): food, US city average, 12-month percent change, not seasonally adjusted (calculated from CUUR0000SAF1). US inflation, food (CPI-U 12-month change), United States, 1976-09 to 2026-09. Dataset. Accessed October 18, 2026. https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/cu/cu.data.11.USFoodBeverage. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/en/us-inflation-food/united-states.

Harvard

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026) Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): food, US city average, 12-month percent change, not seasonally adjusted (calculated from CUUR0000SAF1), US inflation, food (CPI-U 12-month change), United States, 1976-09 to 2026-09 [Dataset]. Available at: https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/cu/cu.data.11.USFoodBeverage, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/en/us-inflation-food/united-states (Accessed: 18 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{bureau_us_inflation_food_cpi_2026,
  author = {{U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics}},
  title = {{Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): food, US city average, 12-month percent change, not seasonally adjusted (calculated from CUUR0000SAF1): US inflation, food (CPI-U 12-month change), United States, 1976-09 to 2026-09}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/cu/cu.data.11.USFoodBeverage},
  urldate = {2026-10-18},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/en/us-inflation-food/united-states. Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): food, US city average, 12-month percent change, not seasonally adjusted (calculated from CUUR0000SAF1). https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/cu/cu.data.11.USFoodBeverage. Retrieved 2026-10-18.},
}

RIS

TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
TI  - Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): food, US city average, 12-month percent change, not seasonally adjusted (calculated from CUUR0000SAF1): US inflation, food (CPI-U 12-month change), United States, 1976-09 to 2026-09
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/14
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/cu/cu.data.11.USFoodBeverage
L2  - https://invokely.ai/en/us-inflation-food/united-states
Y2  - 2026/10/18
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/en/us-inflation-food/united-states.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): food, US city average, 12-month percent change, not seasonally adjusted (calculated from CUUR0000SAF1). https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/cu/cu.data.11.USFoodBeverage. Retrieved 2026-10-18.
ER  -

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Questions

What is the US inflation, food (CPI-U 12-month change) in United States?

US inflation, food (CPI-U 12-month change) in the United States was 2.5% in September 2026, according to BLS. That is down 0.6 pts from September 2025.

Where does this figure come from?

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): food, US city average, 12-month percent change, not seasonally adjusted (calculated from CUUR0000SAF1). Retrieved by Invokely on 2026-10-18.

What was the highest US inflation, food (CPI-U 12-month change) in United States?

13.1% in February 1979, the highest value since September 1976 in this series.

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