The annual growth rate of core consumer prices in the United States edged higher in April 2026, signaling a modest re-acceleration in underlying inflation pressures. According to the latest data updated on 12 May 2026, Core CPI rose 2.8% year-over-year in April, up from 2.6% in March.
Both figures reflect changes compared with the same month a year earlier, meaning the March reading captured price dynamics versus March of the prior year, while the April figure compares with April a year ago. The uptick suggests that, after easing to 2.6% in March, core inflation has firmed slightly, which may factor into how policymakers and markets assess the trajectory of interest rates and the broader economic outlook in the coming months.