Inflation is generally defined as the continued increase in the average prices of goods and services in a given region. Following the extremely high global inflation experienced in the 1980s and 1990s, global inflation has been relatively stable since the turn of the millennium, usually hovering between three and five percent per year. There was a sharp increase in 2008 due to the global financial crisis now known as the Great Recession, but inflation was fairly stable throughout the 2010s, before the current inflation crisis began in 2021. Recent years Despite the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the global inflation rate fell to 3.26 percent in the pandemic's first year, before rising to 4.66 percent in 2021. This increase came as the impact of supply chain delays began to take more of an effect on consumer prices, before the Russia-Ukraine war exacerbated this further. A series of compounding issues such as rising energy and food prices, fiscal instability in the wake of the pandemic, and consumer insecurity have created a new global recession, and global inflation in 2024 is estimated to have reached 5.76 percent. This is the highest annual increase in inflation since 1996. Venezuela Venezuela is the country with the highest individual inflation rate in the world, forecast at around 200 percent in 2022. While this is figure is over 100 times larger than the global average in most years, it actually marks a decrease in Venezuela's inflation rate, which had peaked at over 65,000 percent in 2018. Between 2016 and 2021, Venezuela experienced hyperinflation due to the government's excessive spending and printing of money in an attempt to curve its already-high inflation rate, and the wave of migrants that left the country resulted in one of the largest refugee crises in recent years. In addition to its economic problems, political instability and foreign sanctions pose further long-term problems for Venezuela. While hyperinflation may be coming to an end, it remains to be seen how much of an impact this will have on the economy, how living standards will change, and how many refugees may return in the coming years.

The UK inflation rate was 3.6 percent in June 2025, up from 3.4 percent in the previous month, and the fastest rate of inflation since January 2024. Between September 2022 and March 2023, the UK experienced seven months of double-digit inflation, which peaked at 11.1 percent in October 2022. Due to this long period of high inflation, UK consumer prices have increased by over 20 percent in the last three years. As of the most recent month, prices were rising fastest in the communications sector, at 6.1 percent, but were falling in both the furniture and transport sectors, at -0.3 percent and -0.6 percent, respectively.
The Cost of Living Crisis High inflation is one of the main factors behind the ongoing Cost of Living Crisis in the UK, which, despite subsiding somewhat in 2024, is still impacting households going into 2025. In December 2024, for example, 56 percent of UK households reported their cost of living was increasing compared with the previous month, up from 45 percent in July, but far lower than at the height of the crisis in 2022. After global energy prices spiraled that year, the UK's energy price cap increased substantially. The cap, which limits what suppliers can charge consumers, reached 3,549 British pounds per year in October 2022, compared with 1,277 pounds a year earlier. Along with soaring food costs, high-energy bills have hit UK households hard, especially lower income ones that spend more of their earnings on housing costs. As a result of these factors, UK households experienced their biggest fall in living standards in decades in 2022/23. Global inflation crisis causes rapid surge in prices The UK's high inflation, and cost of living crisis in 2022 had its origins in the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the initial waves of the virus, global supply chains struggled to meet the renewed demand for goods and services. Food and energy prices, which were already high, increased further in 2022. Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 brought an end to the era of cheap gas flowing to European markets from Russia. The war also disrupted global food markets, as both Russia and Ukraine are major exporters of cereal crops. As a result of these factors, inflation surged across Europe and in other parts of the world, but typically declined in 2023, and approached more usual levels by 2024.

Graph and download economic data for Inflation, consumer prices for the United States (FPCPITOTLZGUSA) from 1960 to 2024 about consumer, CPI, inflation, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

Inflation Rate in India decreased to 2.10 percent in June from 2.82 percent in May of 2025. This dataset provides - India Inflation Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In economics, the inflation rate is a measure of the change in price of a basket of goods. The most common measure being the consumer price index. It is the percentage rate of change in price level over time, and also indicates the rate of decrease in the purchasing power of money. The annual rate of inflation for 2023, was 4.1 percent higher in the United States when compared to the previous year. More information on inflation and the consumer price index can be found on our dedicated topic page. Additionally, the monthly rate of inflation in the United States can be accessed here. Inflation and purchasing power Inflation is a key economic indicator, and gives economists and consumers alike a look at changes in prices in the wider economy. For example, if an average pair of socks costs 100 dollars one year and 105 dollars the following year, the inflation rate is five percent. This means the amount of goods an individual can purchase with a unit of currency has decreased. This concept is often referred to as purchasing power. The data presents the average rate of inflation in a year, whereas the monthly measure of inflation measures the change in prices compared with prices one year ago. For example, monthly inflation in the U.S. reached a peak in June 2022 at 9.1 percent. This means that prices were 9.1 percent higher than they were in June of 2021. The purchasing power is the extent to which a person has available funds to make purchases. The Big Mac Index has been published by The Economist since 1986 and exemplifies purchasing power on a global scale, allowing us to see note the differences between different countries currencies. Switzerland for example, has the most expensive Big Mac in the world, costing consumers 6.71 U.S. dollars as of July 2022, whereas a Big Mac cost 5.15 dollars in the United States, and 4.77 dollars in the Euro area. One of the most important tools in influencing the rate of inflation is interest rates. The Federal Reserve of the United States has the capacity to make changes to the federal interest rate . Changes to the rate of inflation are thought to be an imbalance between supply and demand. After COVID-19 related lockdowns came to an end there was a sudden increase in demand for goods and services with consumers having more funds than usual thanks to reduced spending during lockdown and government funded economic support. Additionally, supply-chain related bottlenecks also due to lockdowns around the world and the Russian invasion of Ukraine meant that there was a decrease in the supply of goods and services. By increasing the interest rate, the Federal Reserve aims to reduce spending, and thus bring demand back into balance with supply.

Inflation Rate in Vietnam increased to 3.57 percent in June from 3.24 percent in May of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Vietnam Inflation Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Inflation Rate in China increased to 0.10 percent in June from -0.10 percent in May of 2025. This dataset provides - China Inflation Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Inflation Rate in Japan decreased to 3.30 percent in June from 3.50 percent in May of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Japan Inflation Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Graph and download economic data for Gross Domestic Product: Implicit Price Deflator (GDPDEF) from Q1 1947 to Q2 2025 about implicit price deflator, headline figure, inflation, GDP, and USA.

Inflation Rate in Germany remained unchanged at 2 percent in July. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Germany Inflation Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Inflation Rate in Greece increased to 2.80 percent in June from 2.50 percent in May of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Greece Inflation Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

United States FRB Cleveland Forecast: Inflation Nowcast: Core Consumer Price Index (CPI): YoY data was reported at 2.123 % in Dec 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.199 % for Nov 2018. United States FRB Cleveland Forecast: Inflation Nowcast: Core Consumer Price Index (CPI): YoY data is updated monthly, averaging 1.861 % from Aug 2013 (Median) to Dec 2018, with 65 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.322 % in Aug 2018 and a record low of 1.583 % in Jan 2015. United States FRB Cleveland Forecast: Inflation Nowcast: Core Consumer Price Index (CPI): YoY data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.I003: Consumer Price Index: Urban: Forecast: Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.

Laos Inflation Rate data was reported at 11.200 % in Mar 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 12.700 % for Feb 2025. Laos Inflation Rate data is updated monthly, averaging 3.340 % from Jan 2015 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 123 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 122,015,100.000 % in Mar 2023 and a record low of -0.030 % in Jul 2017. Laos Inflation Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Lao Statistics Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Laos – Table LA.I001: Consumer Price Index: Dec2015=100.

Inflation Rate In the Euro Area remained unchanged at 2 percent in July. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Euro Area Inflation Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Since 2015, the consumer price index (CPI) of food in the United States has increased every year except for 2016, when the CPI decreased by *** percent. The increase of CPI for food compared to the previous year was the highest in 2022, at *** percent.

Measures of monthly UK inflation data including CPIH, CPI and RPI. These tables complement the consumer price inflation time series dataset.

Greece GR: Harmonised Core Inflation Index data was reported at 1.201 Index, 2015 in 2026. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.176 Index, 2015 for 2025. Greece GR: Harmonised Core Inflation Index data is updated yearly, averaging 1.002 Index, 2015 from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2026, with 32 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.201 Index, 2015 in 2026 and a record low of 0.609 Index, 2015 in 1995. Greece GR: Harmonised Core Inflation Index data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Greece – Table GR.OECD.EO: Consumer and Wholesale Price Index: Forecast: OECD Member: Annual. PCOREH - Core inflation index, harmonised Overall index excluding energy, food, alcohol and tobaccoIndex, national reference year

Lebanon: Inflation: percent change in the Consumer Price Index: The latest value from 2024 is 45.2 percent, a decline from 221.3 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 6.0 percent, based on data from 155 countries. Historically, the average for Lebanon from 2009 to 2024 is 44.4 percent. The minimum value, -3.7 percent, was reached in 2015 while the maximum of 221.3 percent was recorded in 2023.

Historical chart and dataset showing Spain inflation rate by year from 1960 to 2024.

Dominica: Inflation: percent change in the Consumer Price Index: The latest value from 2024 is 2.6 percent, a decline from 5.1 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 6.0 percent, based on data from 155 countries. Historically, the average for Dominica from 1967 to 2024 is 4.2 percent. The minimum value, -0.8 percent, was reached in 2015 while the maximum of 34.4 percent was recorded in 1974.