BLS - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

09/11/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/11/2026 11:43

Consumer Price Index, West Region — August 2026

News Release Information

26-1520-SAN
Friday, September 11, 2026

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Consumer Price Index, West Region - August 2026

Area prices were up 0.5 percent over the past month, up 3.2 percent from a year ago

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) in the West region increased 0.5 percent in August, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported today. The all items less food and energy index increased 0.4 percent. The food index rose 0.1 percent, and the energy index increased 1.7 percent. (Data in this report are not seasonally adjusted. Accordingly, month-to-month changes may reflect seasonal influences.)

The West Region all items CPI-U advanced 3.2 percent for the 12 months ending in August. The index for all items less food and energy advanced 2.4 percent over the year. Food prices rose 3.0 percent. Energy prices rose 15.5 percent.

View Chart Data
Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in CPI-U, West region, August 2023-August 2026
Month All items All items less food and energy

Aug 2023

3.9 4.1

Sep 2023

3.9 3.9

Oct 2023

3.3 3.7

Nov 2023

3.3 3.7

Dec 2023

3.6 3.7

Jan 2024

3.3 3.7

Feb 2024

3.2 3.6

Mar 2024

3.6 3.8

Apr 2024

3.7 3.6

May 2024

3.3 3.3

Jun 2024

2.8 3.0

Jul 2024

2.6 3.0

Aug 2024

2.2 2.9

Sep 2024

2.1 3.0

Oct 2024

2.1 3.1

Nov 2024

2.4 3.1

Dec 2024

2.5 2.9

Jan 2025

2.4 2.7

Feb 2025

2.6 2.7

Mar 2025

2.2 2.5

Apr 2025

2.1 2.5

May 2025

2.4 2.8

Jun 2025

2.7 2.9

Jul 2025

3.0 3.2

Aug 2025

3.2 3.4

Sep 2025

3.3 3.3

Oct 2025

- -

Nov 2025

3.0 3.0

Dec 2025

2.9 2.9

Jan 2026

2.7 2.9

Feb 2026

2.7 2.8

Mar 2026

3.1 2.6

Apr 2026

3.5 2.6

May 2026

3.5 2.4

Jun 2026

3.2 2.3

Jul 2026

3.0 2.2

Aug 2026

3.2 2.4

Note: The October 2025 data values are not available due to the 2025 lapse in appropriations.

Food

Food prices increased 0.1 percent for the month of August. Prices for food at home (grocery store purchases) declined 0.1 percent, with lower prices in 3 of the 6 major grocery store food groups. Prices for food away from home (restaurant, cafeteria, and vending purchases) rose 0.3 percent for the same period.

Food prices rose 3.0 percent over the year. Prices for food at home advanced 2.7 percent, with higher prices in all six major grocery store food groups. Prices for food away from home rose 3.2 percent.

Energy

The energy index increased 1.7 percent over the month. Gasoline prices increased 3.3 percent. Prices for electricity fell 1.3 percent, and prices for natural gas service decreased 0.3 percent for the same period.

Energy prices rose 15.5 percent over the year. Gasoline prices increased 24.4 percent. Prices for electricity rose 3.8 percent, and prices for natural gas service increased 0.4 percent during the past year.

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.4 percent in August. Among the index's components, prices were higher for education and communication (+2.3 percent) and shelter (+0.5 percent). In contrast, prices were lower for other goods and services (-0.6 percent) and recreation (-0.3 percent).

The index for all items less food and energy advanced 2.4 percent over the year. Components contributing to the increase included shelter (+2.9 percent) and recreation (+2.6 percent). In contrast, prices were lower for used cars and trucks (-2.8 percent).

Table A. West region CPI-U 1-month and 12-month percent changes, all items index, not seasonally adjusted
Month 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
1-month 12-month 1-month 12-month 1-month 12-month 1-month 12-month 1-month 12-month

January

0.9 7.7 0.9 6.3 0.7 3.3 0.6 2.4 0.4 2.7

February

0.8 8.1 0.5 6.0 0.4 3.2 0.6 2.6 0.5 2.7

March

1.3 8.7 0.5 5.1 0.9 3.6 0.5 2.2 0.9 3.1

April

0.7 8.3 0.5 4.9 0.6 3.7 0.5 2.1 0.8 3.5

May

0.8 8.3 0.4 4.5 0.1 3.3 0.3 2.4 0.4 3.5

June

1.2 8.8 0.3 3.5 -0.2 2.8 0.1 2.7 -0.2 3.2

July

0.1 8.3 0.1 3.5 -0.1 2.6 0.2 3.0 0.0 3.0

August

0.0 8.1 0.4 3.9 0.1 2.2 0.3 3.2 0.5 3.2

September

0.3 8.3 0.4 3.9 0.2 2.1 0.3 3.3

October

0.7 8.1 0.1 3.3 0.1 2.1 - -

November

-0.4 7.1 -0.4 3.3 -0.1 2.4 - 3.0

December

-0.4 6.2 -0.1 3.6 0.0 2.5 -0.2 2.9

Note: The October 2025 data values are not available due to the 2025 lapse in appropriations

The September 2026 Consumer Price Index for the West Region is scheduled to be released on October 14, 2026.


Technical Note

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of the average change in prices over time in a fixed market basket of goods and services. The Consumer Price Index for the West Region is published monthly. The set of components and sub-aggregates published for regional and metropolitan indexes is more limited than at the U.S. city average level; these indexes are byproducts of the national CPI program.

The West region covered in this release is comprised of the following thirteen states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Refer to the national CPI news release technical note or the Handbook of Methods for more information.

If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

Table 1. West region CPI-U by expenditure category for August 2026, not seasonally adjusted (1982-84=100 unless otherwise noted)
Expenditure category Indexes Percent change from -
Historical
data 		Jun.
2026 		Jul.
2026 		Aug.
2026 		Aug.
2025 		Jun.
2026 		Jul.
2026

All items

353.605 353.569 355.254 3.2 0.5 0.5

All items (December 1977 = 100)

571.583 571.525 574.248

Food and beverages

363.235 363.980 364.322 3.0 0.3 0.1

Food

366.361 367.206 367.456 3.0 0.3 0.1

Food at home

338.935 339.590 339.354 2.7 0.1 -0.1

Cereals and bakery products

347.784 351.746 351.427 2.8 1.0 -0.1

Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs

371.382 374.489 375.541 1.6 1.1 0.3

Dairy and related products

284.721 281.763 284.162 0.9 -0.2 0.9

Fruits and vegetables

439.647 435.168 431.812 4.8 -1.8 -0.8

Nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials

238.443 239.057 240.490 2.6 0.9 0.6

Other food at home

292.252 293.469 292.101 2.7 -0.1 -0.5

Food away from home

405.220 406.384 407.501 3.2 0.6 0.3

Alcoholic beverages

315.732 315.012 316.696 2.3 0.3 0.5

Housing

394.559 395.561 396.979 2.8 0.6 0.4

Shelter

455.033 455.788 458.101 2.9 0.7 0.5

Rent of primary residence

482.256 483.411 484.907 2.3 0.5 0.3

Owners' equivalent rent of residences(1)

479.518 481.174 482.861 2.8 0.7 0.4

Owners' equivalent rent of primary residence(1)

479.325 480.977 482.666 2.8 0.7 0.4

Fuels and utilities

452.224 456.364 454.065 3.5 0.4 -0.5

Household energy

391.061 394.881 390.776 3.2 -0.1 -1.0

Energy services

394.301 398.302 393.967 3.0 -0.1 -1.1

Electricity

439.202 442.960 437.225 3.8 -0.5 -1.3

Utility (piped) gas service

308.034 312.953 311.895 0.4 1.3 -0.3

Household furnishings and operations

162.891 163.551 163.338 0.8 0.3 -0.1

Apparel

130.520 129.883 133.004 4.0 1.9 2.4

Transportation

308.115 303.755 306.602 6.4 -0.5 0.9

Private transportation

304.804 301.417 304.043 5.5 -0.2 0.9

New and used motor vehicles(2)

124.487 125.123 125.024 -0.3 0.4 -0.1

New vehicles

176.737 176.933 177.027 0.4 0.2 0.1

New cars(3)

176.944 177.271 177.453 1.2 0.3 0.1

Used cars and trucks

177.691 179.095 178.831 -2.8 0.6 -0.1

Motor fuel

422.774 402.242 416.551 25.0 -1.5 3.6

Gasoline (all types)

418.720 398.950 411.918 24.4 -1.6 3.3

Gasoline, unleaded regular(3)

413.771 393.880 407.053 24.8 -1.6 3.3

Gasoline, unleaded midgrade(3)(4)

400.118 381.806 393.518 23.5 -1.6 3.1

Gasoline, unleaded premium(3)

411.891 393.942 405.481 22.8 -1.6 2.9

Medical care

651.903 655.130 654.433 1.5 0.4 -0.1

Medical care commodities

462.711 466.618 465.035 -2.3 0.5 -0.3

Medical care services

709.878 712.904 712.473 2.3 0.4 -0.1

Professional services

451.377 455.078 454.197 2.2 0.6 -0.2

Recreation(2)

138.103 138.742 138.316 2.6 0.2 -0.3

Education and communication(2)

142.944 144.056 147.419 1.5 3.1 2.3

Tuition, other school fees, and child care(5)

103.909 104.294 106.217 2.9 2.2 1.8

Other goods and services

602.266 601.613 598.099 2.5 -0.7 -0.6

Footnotes
(1) Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.
(2) Indexes on a December 1997=100 base.
(3) Special index based on a substantially smaller sample.
(4) Indexes on a December 1993=100 base.
(5) Indexes on a December 2024=100 base.

- Data not available.
Note: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

Table 2. West region CPI-U by special aggregate index for August 2026, not seasonally adjusted (1982-84=100 unless otherwise noted)
Special aggregate index

 Indexes Percent change from -
Historical
data 		Jun.
2026 		Jul.
2026 		Aug.
2026 		Aug.
2025 		Jun.
2026 		Jul.
2026

All items

353.605 353.569 355.254 3.2 0.5 0.5

Food

366.361 367.206 367.456 3.0 0.3 0.1

Energy

419.143 408.383 415.275 15.5 -0.9 1.7

All items less food and energy

350.945 351.526 353.091 2.4 0.6 0.4

All items less energy

352.380 352.997 354.378 2.5 0.6 0.4

All items less medical care

339.871 339.694 341.478 3.4 0.5 0.5

All items less shelter

313.480 313.127 314.562 3.4 0.3 0.5

Commodities

239.446 238.777 240.057 3.8 0.3 0.5

Commodities less food

186.673 185.579 187.101 4.3 0.2 0.8

Commodities less food & beverages

181.723 180.633 182.134 4.3 0.2 0.8

Durables

122.885 123.716 123.804 -0.3 0.7 0.1

Nondurables

308.769 306.690 308.931 5.6 0.1 0.7

Nondurables less food & beverages

254.136 249.561 253.464 9.1 -0.3 1.6

Nondurables less food

259.196 254.803 258.610 8.7 -0.2 1.5

Services

460.089 460.726 462.770 2.9 0.6 0.4

Services less rent of shelter(1)

480.266 480.721 482.432 2.9 0.5 0.4

Services less medical care services

442.475 442.946 445.160 3.0 0.6 0.5

Footnotes
(1) Indexes on a December 1982=100 base.

- Data not available.
NOTE: Index applies to a month as a whole, not to any specific date.

BLS - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics published this content on September 11, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 11, 2026 at 17:43 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]