Upstream Pressure

Shelter CPI

Tracking stable relative to recent baseline.

What is the current Shelter CPI?

SHELTER CPI
3.26% ↓ Improving
Shelter CPI at 3.4%

The shelter Consumer Price Index rose 3.26% year-over-year in the latest reading, remaining the largest contributor to overall inflation. Shelter costs — which include rent, owners' equivalent rent, and lodging — represent roughly one-third of the CPI basket and have been persistently elevated. Source: BLS (CUSR0000SAH1).

Shelter CPI at 3.4%

Tracking stable relative to recent baseline.

Source: BLS via official source ↗

Explore Further

How has Shelter CPI changed over time?

CSV Chart Card
Shelter CPI over time
Shelter CPI, percent
Shelter CPI
Historical data
Monthly · BLS
Period Value YoY Change
Feb 2026 3.26% −1.0 pts
Jan 2026 3.38% −1.0 pts
Dec 2025 3.42% −1.2 pts
Nov 2025 3.38% −1.4 pts
Sep 2025 3.58% −1.3 pts
Aug 2025 3.64% −1.6 pts
Jul 2025 3.69% −1.4 pts
Jun 2025 3.82% −1.3 pts
May 2025 3.87% −1.5 pts
Apr 2025 3.99% −1.5 pts
Mar 2025 3.99% −1.6 pts
Feb 2025 4.24% −1.5 pts

Frequently Asked Questions

How fast are housing costs rising?

Shelter CPI rose 3.26% year-over-year, still above the overall CPI rate. Shelter has been the most persistent component of inflation since 2022.

Why is shelter inflation important for distress?

Housing is the largest monthly expense for most households. When shelter costs rise faster than income, it compresses budgets for everything else — food, debt payments, savings.

Where does shelter CPI data come from?

Published monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, series CUSR0000SAH1. Shelter CPI uses a 6-month lag in measuring actual rents.

Quick poll

Is this affecting you or your household?

Anonymous · one vote per indicator

Create a free account to save indicators to your watchlist and get weekly updates.

Create Free Account →

Discussion

Loading comments…

Free Resource
Know Your Rights
Foreclosure timelines, bankruptcy protections, and debt collector rules — state-by-state legal guides written in plain English.
Browse state guides →
Free Counseling
Talk to a HUD Counselor
HUD-approved housing counselors provide free, confidential help with mortgage problems, foreclosure prevention, and credit counseling.
Find a counselor →

Why does Shelter CPI matter?

Shelter CPI is one of 91 indicators in the American Distress Index's upstream pressure layer — the signal that predicted the 2008 crisis two years before delinquency data confirmed it.
View methodology →
🛟
If you're struggling with debt or facing foreclosure, free help is available. Find help near you · Browse the Glossary · The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides HUD-approved housing counselors at no cost. You can also call 1-800-569-4287.