The August 2026 Consumer Price Index (CPI) provides another reason to be cautious about declaring victory over inflation. The CPI increased 0.4 percent in August , four times July's 0.1 percent increase. Annual inflation remained at 3.4 percent , while core CPI increased 0.3 percent for the month. The relatively stable annual headline masks a critical development: inflation accelerated during August. Energy Is Again the Warning Sign Energy prices increased 2.1 percent in August, while gasoline jumped 3.9 percent . Gasoline alone accounted for more than one-third of the monthly CPI increase. Gasoline prices are now 27.4 percent higher than a year ago , according to US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This matters for transportation, logistics, construction, food distribution, delivery and other businesses with significant fuel exposure. For these firms, a 3.4 percent national inflation rate bears little resemblance to their actual increase in operating costs. M...
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