Federal Reserve Economic Data
FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) is a powerful online database maintained by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. It offers free access to over 800,000 economic data series, including key indicators like GDP, inflation, interest rates, unemployment, and more. Used by economists, financial professionals, and researchers, FRED makes it easy to track and visualize real-time economic trends that impact markets, retirement planning, and investment decisions.
Whether you’re analyzing historical trends or staying informed about the latest economic updates, FRED is a trusted source for accurate, up-to-date economic data
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Federal Reserve Economic Charts
Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers
All Items in U.S. City Average (CPIAUCSL)
U.S. Inflation (CPI Index)
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Notes
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items (CPIAUCSL) is a price index of a basket of goods and services paid by urban consumers. Percent changes in the price index measure the inflation rate between any two time periods. The most common inflation metric is the percent change from one year ago. It can also represent the buying habits of urban consumers. This particular index includes roughly 88 percent of the total population, accounting for wage earners, clerical workers, technical workers, self-employed, short-term workers, unemployed, retirees, and those not in the labor force.
The CPIs are based on prices for food, clothing, shelter, and fuels; transportation fares; service fees (e.g., water and sewer service); and sales taxes. Prices are collected monthly from about 4,000 housing units and approximately 26,000 retail establishments across 87 urban areas. To calculate the index, price changes are averaged with weights representing their importance in the spending of the particular group. The index measures price changes (as a percent change) from a predetermined reference date. In addition to the original unadjusted index distributed, the Bureau of Labor Statistics also releases a seasonally adjusted index. The unadjusted series reflects all factors that may influence a change in prices. However, it can be very useful to look at the seasonally adjusted CPI, which removes the effects of seasonal changes, such as weather, school year, production cycles, and holidays.
The CPI can be used to recognize periods of inflation and deflation. Significant increases in the CPI within a short time frame might indicate a period of inflation, and significant decreases in CPI within a short time frame might indicate a period of deflation. However, because the CPI includes volatile food and oil prices, it might not be a reliable measure of inflationary and deflationary periods. For a more accurate detection, the core CPI (CPILFESL) is often used. When using the CPI, please note that it is not applicable to all consumers and should not be used to determine relative living costs. Additionally, the CPI is a statistical measure vulnerable to sampling error since it is based on a sample of prices and not the complete average.
For more information on the CPI, see the Handbook of Methods, the release notes and announcements, and the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
Suggested Citation:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items in U.S. City Average [CPIAUCSL], retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CPIAUCSL, August 7, 2025.
FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) – FAQ
What is FRED?
FRED is a free online database maintained by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. It offers access to over 800,000 economic data series, including inflation, interest rates, GDP, unemployment, and more.
Where does FRED get its data?
FRED pulls data from credible sources such as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Census Bureau, Federal Reserve, International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, and more.
How often is FRED updated?
FRED updates data daily, weekly, monthly, or quarterly depending on the specific dataset and source agency.
Why is FRED useful for retirement and financial planning?
FRED helps you track economic trends like inflation, interest rates, and market movements: all of which affect retirement income, investment decisions, and financial strategies.
How far back does FRED data go?
Many data series in FRED go back several decades, some even to the 1800’s, making it valuable for long-term historical analysis.
Is FRED affiliated with the IRS or other government agencies?
No. FRED is maintained by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and aggregates data from various trusted sources, but it does not provide tax or legal guidance.
How can I learn to use FRED more effectively?
The St. Louis Fed offers free tutorials, guides, and videos to help users learn how to navigate FRED, build charts, and interpret data.
