FX.co ★ US Core CPI Ticks Higher in January, Signaling Firm Underlying Inflation

Core consumer prices in the United States rose 0.3% month-over-month in January 2026, up from a 0.2% increase in December 2025, according to data updated on 13 February 2026. The core Consumer Price Index (Core CPI), which excludes volatile food and energy components, is closely watched by markets as a gauge of underlying inflation pressures.

On a month-over-month basis, January’s uptick suggests that underlying price pressures remain resilient at the start of 2026. The “actual” January figure reflects the change from December 2025 to January 2026, while the “previous” 0.2% reading captures the change from November to December 2025, highlighting a modest acceleration in core inflation momentum.

The data will likely feed into investor and policymaker assessments of how persistent inflation may be and whether price growth is re‑firming after a softer patch late last year. While the move from 0.2% to 0.3% is incremental, even small month-to-month shifts in Core CPI can influence expectations around the future path of U.S. monetary policy.