The U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 2.4% on a year-on-year basis in February 2026, according to a Labor Department report released today, March 11, 2026. This reading was in line with economist expectations and confirms that annual inflation remained steady compared to the January 2026 figure. [1, 2]
Key Data Points for February 2026:
Annual Headline Inflation: 2.4% (matches the 2.4% recorded in January).
Monthly CPI Increase: 0.3%, meeting the consensus forecast.
Annual Core CPI: 2.5% (excludes volatile food and energy), also matching estimates.
Monthly Core CPI: 0.2%, consistent with analyst expectations. [2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
Market Reaction:
Stock Futures: U.S. stock index futures, including the Dow and S&P 500, inched slightly lower following the release as investors weighed the data against the Federal Reserve's future interest rate outlook.
Fed Outlook: The steady 2.4% rate suggests a moderation in price pressures after fluctuations seen throughout 2025, though it remains above the Federal Reserve's long-term 2% target. [2, 7, 8,