The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers rose 0.6% in September 2026 on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on October 14. Over the 12 months through September, prices rose 3.7% before seasonal adjustment, up from 3.4% for the 12 months through August.
The index for gasoline rose 9.1% in September and accounted for over half of the monthly all-items increase. Excluding food and energy, the core index rose 0.3%, the same as in August, and was up 2.6% over 12 months.
| Category | Change, Aug to Sep 2026 (seasonally adjusted) | Change, Sep 2025 to Sep 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| All items | +0.6% | +3.7% |
| All items less food and energy (core) | +0.3% | +2.6% |
| Gasoline (all types) | +9.1% | +34.2% |
| Energy | — | +20.4% |
| Electricity | +0.2% | +4.4% |
| Shelter | +0.4% | +3.2% |
| Rent of primary residence | — | +2.8% |
| Food at home | −0.1% | +1.8% |
Food overall was unchanged in September and up 2.5% over the year. Used cars and trucks were down 1.5% from a year earlier, and new vehicles were up 0.6%.
BLS also publishes average retail prices. Regular unleaded averaged $4.482 a gallon in September 2026, up from $4.200 in August and $3.339 in September 2025. That is $1.143 more per gallon than a year earlier.
The number that matters: a car driven 12,000 miles a year at 25 miles per gallon uses 480 gallons. At September 2026's average price that is $2,151.36 a year in fuel, compared with $1,602.72 at September 2025's price, a difference of $548.64.
Average hourly earnings for private-sector workers rose 3.0% over the 12 months through September, according to the BLS jobs report of October 2. With prices up 3.7% over the same 12 months, a $60,000 salary that rose 3.0% gained $1,800, while keeping pace with prices would have taken $2,220, a gap of $420 for the year.
The Social Security Administration announced a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment for 2027 on October 14, the same day as this CPI release; benefits rise starting with January 2027 payments. The figures for 2027 are covered in our Social Security and Medicare 2027 guide.
Index data for October 2025 are not available because of the 2025 lapse in appropriations, so this post makes no comparison that depends on that month. BLS is scheduled to release the October 2026 CPI on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern.
Put September’s numbers on your own budget. The Personal Inflation Calculator weights the CPI categories by what you spend, and the Fuel Cost Calculator prices a year of driving at $4.48 a gallon.
Related tools: Inflation Calculator · Personal Inflation Calculator · Fuel Cost Calculator · Raise Calculator