US Consumer Inflation Hits 3.3% March 2026

Energy price surge drove U.S. CPI to 3.3% in March 2026, up from 2.4% in January‑February.
Income gap widened as lower‑income sentiment fell while higher‑income consumers rebounded on tax refunds.
Mortgage rates stayed above 6.2%, housing turnover stayed muted; retail sales rose YoY, clothing +7.2% and merchandise +2.5%.
SNAP participation fell 10% YoY due to tighter eligibility; food‑away‑from‑home inflation hit 3.8% YoY, energy cumulative inflation 70% since 2019.