Consumer Price Index, South Region — February 2026

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) in the South region increased 0.3 percent in February, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported today. The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.3 percent over the month. The energy index increased 0.5 percent in February and the index for food rose 0.1 percent. (Data in this report are not seasonally adjusted. Accordingly, month-to-month changes may reflect the impact of seasonal influences.)

The South all items CPI-U advanced 1.8 percent for the 12 months ending in February, after increasing 1.9 percent for the 12 months ending January. The index for all items less food and energy rose 1.9 percent over the last 12 months. The food index increased 2.6 percent for the 12 months ending February. The energy index declined 0.9 percent over the last year.

The food index rose 0.1 percent in February. The index for food away from home (restaurant, cafeteria, and vending purchases) increased 0.2 percent over the month The index for food at home (grocery store purchases) rose 0.1 percent in February.

The food index increased 2.6 percent over the last 12 months. The food away from home index rose 3.7 percent over the past year. The food at home index increased 1.9 percent for the 12 months ending February as prices increased in 5 of the 6 major grocery store food groups, including other food at home (+2.8 percent) and nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials (+5.2 percent).

The energy index rose 0.5 percent in February. The gasoline index increased 2.7 percent over the month. The index for natural gas rose 2.1 percent in February. In contrast, the index for electricity declined 2.0 percent over the same period.

The energy index declined 0.9 percent over the past 12 months. The gasoline index fell 6.8 percent over the 12 months ending February. In contrast, the electricity index rose 4.0 percent over this 12-month span and the index for natural gas increased 10.0 percent.

The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.3 percent in February. The apparel index rose 4.5 percent over the month. Medical care services (+0.5 percent) and household furnishings and operations (+0.8 percent) were among the indexes to increase in February. In comparison, the index for used cars and trucks (-1.3 percent) was among the indexes to decline over the month.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 1.9 percent over the last 12 months. The shelter index increased 2.5 percent over the last year. The index for owners' equivalent rent rose 2.7 percent over the same period. Other indexes with notable increases over the last year include other goods and services (+7.2 percent) and medical care (+2.3 percent).

The Consumer Price Index for March 2026 is scheduled to be released on Friday, April 10, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. (ET).

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 South 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 South region is comprised of Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

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

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