The United States Consumer Price Index (CPI) for December 2025 showed an annual increase of 2.7% for all items, marking a consistent rate with the previous month's reading. This data was officially released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on January 13, 2026. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, the CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose by 0.3% in December. Core inflation, which excludes the more volatile food and energy components, increased 0.2% monthly and held steady at an annual rate of 2.6% in December, matching November's figures. This core inflation rate was slightly below market expectations, which had anticipated a 2.7% increase. Key categories contributing to the overall inflation figures included shelter, which saw a 0.4% increase in December and was identified as the largest factor in the monthly all-items rise. Food prices also climbed, rising 0.7% for the month and standing 3.1% higher than a year ago. Energy prices experienced a 0.3% increase in December, resulting in a 2.3% rise over the last 12 months. The December 2025 CPI report provides a clearer picture of inflation trends following a period of government shutdown-related disruptions, which had impacted earlier data collection and reporting for October and potentially skewed November's figures. This stability in inflation, albeit still above the Federal Reserve's 2% target, is closely watched by global markets and central banks, including for its potential implications on future interest rate decisions by the Federal Reserve.