Current Inflation Rate: 3.4% in August 2026, by Category and Region

The 12-month rate of inflation as of August 2026 is 3.4%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Energy inflation spiked to 16.9% as the status of the Strait of Hormuz remains uncertain.

Here’s the inflation breakdown for August 2026 — in one chart

Inflation remained stubbornly high in August, largely on the back of higher energy prices amid the Iran war, economists said.
nytimes.com

Elevated Inflation Keeps Pressure on Fed to Raise Interest Rates

U.S. inflation showed little improvement in August, running at a 3.4 percent annual rate. Investors believe the Federal Reserve is very likely to raise rates at its meeting next week. Note: Data is ...

The Fed's Preferred Inflation Gauge Was Lower Than Expected. Odds Of a Rate Hike Decreased.

The chances that interest rates remain at current levels now stand at 62.9%, compared to 49.1% on Tuesday.
24/7 Wall St

The Fed Just Admitted Inflation Is Still Stubborn and Still Sticky. Savers Should Be Worried.

Schmid declared the 3.75% fed funds rate "accommodative" while headline PCE runs at 3.7%, signaling inflation stays elevated with no new tightening coming. AI-driven data center demand, projected to ...
Yahoo Finance

Cooler inflation data may force Warsh's divided Fed to hold the line on rates

GREENVILLE, South Carolina, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Kevin Warsh took over as head of the Federal Reserve in May with monetary policy at a crossroads, officials divided over whether they would need to hike ...