OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) — U.S. consumer prices jumped in March, with the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI‑U) up 0.9% on a seasonally adjusted basis, following a 0.3% increase in February, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday. Over the past 12 months, the all-items index rose 3.3% before seasonal adjustment.
The March increase was driven primarily by energy. The energy index rose 10.9%, led by a 21.2% surge in gasoline, which BLS said accounted for nearly three-quarters of the monthly all-items increase. BLS noted the energy index posted its largest monthly increase since September 2005, and the gasoline increase was the largest monthly jump since the series began in 1967.
Outside of energy, inflation measures were more modest. Core CPI (all items less food and energy) increased 0.2% in March, while the shelter index rose 0.3%. Food prices were flat overall, with food away from home up 0.2% and food at home down 0.2%.
On a year-over-year basis, BLS reported core CPI up 2.6%, energy up 12.5%, and food up 2.7% for the 12 months ending in March.
BLS also noted that October and November 2025 CPI data values are not available due to the 2025 lapse in appropriations. The next CPI release (April 2026 data) is scheduled for May 12, 2026.
