This table shows the monthly All-Items Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) as well as the annual and monthly inflation rates for the United States in 2020. You can find upcoming CPI release dates on our schedule page. These numbers are released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
| Month | CPI | Monthly Inflation Rate (%) | Yearly Inflation Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 257.971 | 0.4% | 2.5% |
| February | 258.678 | 0.3% | 2.3% |
| March | 258.115 | -0.2% | 1.5% |
| April | 256.389 | -0.7% | 0.3% |
| May | 256.394 | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| June | 257.797 | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| July | 259.101 | 0.5% | 1.0% |
| August | 259.918 | 0.4% | 1.3% |
| September | 260.280 | 0.2% | 1.4% |
| October | 260.388 | 0.0% | 1.2% |
| November | 260.229 | 0.2% | 1.2% |
| December | 260.474 | 0.4% | 1.4% |
| Annual | 257.557 |
*The latest CPI will be added to this table as soon as it is released by the BLS. See our release schedule section for the exact dates.
What is the CPI?
The CPI is the Consumer Price Index and is a metric used to measure inflation. The BLS releases a new CPI every month which represents the increase or decrease in the price of goods and services in several key categories. The CPI is one of the most oft used techniques for measuring inflation all over the world, not just in the United States. Specific countries scrutinize different sets of data, but all employ a similar method. In the US, there has been contention surrounding the CPI for many years now. Initially, it was calculated by contrasting a market basket of goods from two periods – effectively operating as a cost of goods index (COGI). Yet, under the auspices of the US Congress, the CPI eventually developed into a cost of living index (COLI). In addition, as time passed methodological changes occurred which often resulted in a lower CPI. In this article, experts weigh in and provide compelling insight into whether the Consumer Price Index is a valid metric for inflation.
How are inflation rates calculated?
Monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics is used to calculate inflation rates. The formula is as follows:
Notice something wrong with this table?
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