United States Inflation Rate (CPI YoY %) - Historical Data
Year-on-year percentage change in the headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) for United States from 1914 to 2026, compiled from the BIS Long Consumer Prices archive (WS_LONG_CPI). The latest inflation rate is 3.40% (Aug 2026) compared with the Federal Reserve System official target of 2.0% (PCE Price Index).
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Current Statistics & Historical Records
Latest Reading (Aug 2026)
3.40%
Prev (Jul 2026): 3.36%+0.04 pp
Highest Recorded (Jun 1920)
23.67%
Peak consumer price inflation rate in United States (Federal Reserve mandate: 2.0% (PCE Price Index)).
Lowest Recorded (Jun 1921)
-15.79%
Lowest recorded CPI inflation / deflation reading in United States.
Long-Run Mean (1914–2026)
3.27%
113 annual observations · Monthly
Federal Reserve · USD
United States Inflation Rate (CPI YoY %) (1914-2026)
% YoYDrag to pan, scroll to zoom, or toggle between full archive (1914–2026) and recent monthly observations.
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Source: Bank for International Settlements (BIS) & National Statistical Office (WS_LONG_CPI:M:US:771)
Latest: 3.40% (Aug 2026)
United States Inflation Rate Averages by Decade
Decadal mean, peak, and trough across the 1914–2026 archive
| Decade | Years Covered | Decade Mean | Decade High (Year) | Decade Low (Year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 1914–1919 | 10.05% | 17.80% (1917) | 0.92% (1915) |
| 1920s | 1920–1929 | 0.15% | 15.90% (1920) | -10.85% (1921) |
| 1930s | 1930–1939 | -1.95% | 3.73% (1937) | -10.30% (1932) |
| 1940s | 1940–1949 | 5.66% | 14.65% (1947) | -0.94% (1949) |
| 1950s | 1950–1959 | 2.07% | 7.88% (1951) | -0.28% (1955) |
| 1960s | 1960–1969 | 2.33% | 5.46% (1969) | 1.07% (1961) |
| 1970s | 1970–1979 | 7.09% | 11.22% (1979) | 3.27% (1972) |
| 1980s | 1980–1989 | 5.56% | 13.58% (1980) | 1.91% (1986) |
| 1990s | 1990–1999 | 3.01% | 5.39% (1990) | 1.55% (1998) |
| 2000s | 2000–2009 | 2.57% | 3.85% (2008) | -0.34% (2009) |
| 2010s | 2010–2019 | 1.77% | 3.15% (2011) | 0.12% (2015) |
| 2020s | 2020–2026 | 3.86% | 8.01% (2022) | 1.24% (2020) |
Complete Annual Historical Ledger (1914–2026)
Unit: % YoY · Source: Bank for International Settlements (BIS) & National Statistical Office (WS_LONG_CPI:M:US:771)
| Year | Annual Value (% YoY) | Intra-Year Range (Min – Max) | Monetary Regime & Historical Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3.30% | 2.39% – 4.25% | - |
| 2025 | 2.69% | 2.31% – 3.01% | Post-tightening monetary recalibration across advanced and emerging central banks |
| 2024 | 2.95% | 2.44% – 3.48% | G10 policy rates peak and pivot toward gradual monetary normalization |
| 2023 | 4.14% | 2.97% – 6.41% | - |
| 2022 | 8.01% | 6.45% – 9.06% | Global inflation surge triggers fastest synchronized rate hiking cycle in four decades |
| 2021 | 4.69% | 1.40% – 7.04% | - |
| 2020 | 1.24% | 0.12% – 2.49% | COVID-19 pandemic emergency rate cuts and record balance sheet expansion |
| 2019 | 1.81% | 1.52% – 2.29% | - |
| 2018 | 2.44% | 1.91% – 2.95% | - |
| 2017 | 2.13% | 1.63% – 2.74% | - |
| 2016 | 1.26% | 0.83% – 2.07% | Bank of Japan introduces Yield Curve Control (YCC); post-Brexit BoE easing |
| 2015 | 0.12% | -0.20% – 0.73% | - |
| 2014 | 1.62% | 0.76% – 2.13% | ECB and European peers introduce Negative Interest Rate Policy (NIRP) |
| 2013 | 1.46% | 0.96% – 1.98% | - |
| 2012 | 2.07% | 1.41% – 2.93% | - |
| 2011 | 3.15% | 1.63% – 3.87% | European Sovereign Debt Crisis and Swiss franc safe-haven surge |
| 2010 | 1.64% | 1.05% – 2.63% | - |
| 2009 | -0.34% | -2.10% – 2.72% | - |
| 2008 | 3.85% | 0.09% – 5.60% | Global Financial Crisis drives major central banks to the zero lower bound and QE1 |
| 2007 | 2.85% | 1.97% – 4.31% | - |
| 2006 | 3.24% | 1.31% – 4.32% | - |
| 2005 | 3.39% | 2.53% – 4.69% | - |
| 2004 | 2.68% | 1.69% – 3.52% | - |
| 2003 | 2.27% | 1.77% – 3.02% | - |
| 2002 | 1.59% | 1.07% – 2.38% | - |
| 2001 | 2.83% | 1.55% – 3.73% | Dot-com bust and synchronized G10 monetary easing cycle |
| 2000 | 3.38% | 2.74% – 3.76% | - |
| 1999 | 2.19% | 1.61% – 2.68% | Launch of the Euro and establishment of the European Central Bank (ECB) |
| 1998 | 1.55% | 1.38% – 1.69% | - |
| 1997 | 2.34% | 1.70% – 3.04% | Asian Financial Crisis triggers emergency EM currency defense hikes |
| 1996 | 2.93% | 2.65% – 3.32% | - |
| 1995 | 2.81% | 2.54% – 3.19% | - |
| 1994 | 2.61% | 2.29% – 2.96% | Global bond market selloff and pre-emptive Federal Reserve tightening cycle |
| 1993 | 2.96% | 2.68% – 3.26% | - |
| 1992 | 3.03% | 2.60% – 3.20% | European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM) crisis and Black Wednesday |
| 1991 | 4.25% | 2.92% – 5.65% | - |
| 1990 | 5.39% | 4.36% – 6.29% | German reunification tightening and Japanese asset bubble peak |
| 1989 | 4.83% | 4.34% – 5.36% | - |
| 1988 | 4.08% | 3.89% – 4.42% | - |
| 1987 | 3.66% | 1.46% – 4.53% | Louvre Accord and Black Monday central bank liquidity provision |
| 1986 | 1.91% | 1.10% – 3.89% | - |
| 1985 | 3.55% | 3.14% – 3.80% | Plaza Accord coordinated G5 currency intervention depreciates USD |
| 1984 | 4.30% | 3.95% – 4.80% | - |
| 1983 | 3.22% | 2.46% – 3.90% | - |
| 1982 | 6.16% | 3.83% – 8.39% | - |
| 1981 | 10.35% | 8.92% – 11.83% | Volcker disinflation peak pushes benchmark policy rates to postwar highs |
| 1980 | 13.58% | 12.52% – 14.76% | - |
| 1979 | 11.22% | 9.28% – 13.29% | Second oil shock; Paul Volcker appointed Federal Reserve Chair |
| 1978 | 7.62% | 6.43% – 9.02% | - |
| 1977 | 6.50% | 5.22% – 6.95% | - |
| 1976 | 5.75% | 4.86% – 6.72% | - |
| 1975 | 9.19% | 6.94% – 11.80% | - |
| 1974 | 11.03% | 9.39% – 12.34% | First OPEC oil shock triggers global stagflation and steep policy rate hikes |
| 1973 | 6.16% | 3.65% – 8.71% | - |
| 1972 | 3.27% | 2.71% – 3.67% | - |
| 1971 | 4.30% | 3.27% – 5.29% | Nixon Shock suspends USD gold convertibility; Bretton Woods system ends |
| 1970 | 5.84% | 5.41% – 6.18% | - |
| 1969 | 5.46% | 4.40% – 6.20% | - |
| 1968 | 4.27% | 3.65% – 4.75% | - |
| 1967 | 2.77% | 2.43% – 3.46% | - |
| 1966 | 3.01% | 1.92% – 3.79% | Credit crunch of 1966 and monetary tightening |
| 1965 | 1.58% | 0.97% – 1.94% | - |
| 1964 | 1.28% | 0.97% – 1.64% | - |
| 1963 | 1.24% | 0.99% – 1.64% | - |
| 1962 | 1.20% | 0.67% – 1.34% | - |
| 1961 | 1.07% | 0.67% – 1.71% | - |
| 1960 | 1.46% | 1.02% – 1.73% | - |
| 1959 | 1.01% | 0.35% – 1.73% | - |
| 1958 | 2.73% | 1.76% – 3.62% | Eisenhower recession and global monetary easing |
| 1957 | 3.34% | 2.90% – 3.73% | - |
| 1956 | 1.52% | 0.37% – 2.99% | - |
| 1955 | -0.28% | -0.74% – 0.37% | - |
| 1954 | 0.32% | -0.74% – 1.51% | Post-Korean War Federal Reserve policy rate normalization |
| 1953 | 0.82% | 0.37% – 1.14% | - |
| 1952 | 2.29% | 0.75% – 4.33% | - |
| 1951 | 7.88% | 6.00% – 9.36% | - |
| 1950 | 1.09% | -2.08% – 5.93% | - |
| 1949 | -0.94% | -2.87% – 1.71% | - |
| 1948 | 7.74% | 2.99% – 10.23% | - |
| 1947 | 14.65% | 8.45% – 19.67% | - |
| 1946 | 8.43% | 1.69% – 18.13% | - |
| 1945 | 2.27% | 1.71% – 2.84% | - |
| 1944 | 1.64% | 0.00% – 2.96% | - |
| 1943 | 6.00% | 2.96% – 8.07% | - |
| 1942 | 10.97% | 9.03% – 13.19% | - |
| 1941 | 5.11% | 0.71% – 10.00% | - |
| 1940 | 0.72% | -0.71% – 2.17% | - |
| 1939 | -1.30% | -2.82% – 0.00% | - |
| 1938 | -2.01% | -4.11% – 0.71% | - |
| 1937 | 3.73% | 2.17% – 5.11% | - |
| 1936 | 1.03% | -0.72% – 2.19% | - |
| 1935 | 2.56% | 0.74% – 3.76% | - |
| 1934 | 3.51% | 1.52% – 5.56% | - |
| 1933 | -5.09% | -10.00% – 0.76% | - |
| 1932 | -10.30% | -10.74% – -9.93% | - |
| 1931 | -8.94% | -10.37% – -7.02% | - |
| 1930 | -2.65% | -6.40% – 0.59% | - |
| 1929 | 0.00% | -1.17% – 1.17% | - |
| 1928 | -1.15% | -2.84% – 0.00% | - |
| 1927 | -1.92% | -3.35% – -0.56% | - |
| 1926 | 0.94% | -1.69% – 4.07% | - |
| 1925 | 2.44% | 0.00% – 4.65% | - |
| 1924 | 0.45% | -0.58% – 2.98% | - |
| 1923 | 1.80% | -0.59% – 3.61% | - |
| 1922 | -6.10% | -11.05% – -2.31% | - |
| 1921 | -10.85% | -15.79% – -1.55% | - |
| 1920 | 15.90% | 2.65% – 23.67% | - |
| 1919 | 15.31% | 13.12% – 17.86% | - |
| 1918 | 17.26% | 12.70% – 20.74% | - |
| 1917 | 17.80% | 12.50% – 20.37% | - |
| 1916 | 7.64% | 2.97% – 12.62% | - |
| 1915 | 0.92% | -0.98% – 2.04% | - |
| 1914 | 1.35% | 0.00% – 3.03% | - |
Frequently Asked Questions - United States Inflation Rate
What is the current inflation rate in United States?
As of Aug 2026, headline consumer price inflation in United States is 3.40% year-on-year, compared to the Federal Reserve target of 2.0% (PCE Price Index).
What was the highest inflation rate recorded in United States?
In the 1914-2026 series, United States CPI inflation peaked at 23.67% in Jun 1920 and reached a low of -15.79% in Jun 1921.
Statistical Provenance
Source Metadata & Methodology Notes
- Primary Institution:
- Bank for International Settlements (BIS) & National Statistical Office
- Dataset / Dataflow:
- BIS Long Series on Consumer Prices (WS_LONG_CPI)
- Canonical Series ID:
- WS_LONG_CPI:M:US:771
- Reuse & License:
- Terms of permitted use of BIS statistics
- Unit of measure: Year-on-year percentage change in headline consumer price index (UNIT_MEASURE=771).
- Central bank benchmark target: 2.0% (PCE Price Index) (Federal Reserve System).
- Annual table values represent annual average inflation across each calendar year.
Academic & Media Attribution
Cite This Dataset (APA & BibTeX)
APA 7th Edition
CentralBankData.com. (2026). United States Inflation Rate (CPI YoY %), compiled from Bank for International Settlements (WS_LONG_CPI:M:US:771). https://centralbankdata.com/us-inflation-rate
BibTeX
@misc{cbd_cpi_us,
author = {CentralBankData.com},
title = {United States Consumer Price Inflation Rate},
note = {Compiled from Bank for International Settlements WS_LONG_CPI:M:US:771},
year = {2026},
url = {https://centralbankdata.com/us-inflation-rate}
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