What is the inflation rate of the Houston, TX area?
Updated monthly
About 1.3%, as of February 2026. The annual inflation rate measures the difference in prices between one month and the same month a year before. While several government datasets track price changes, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) represents the spending habits of people living in urban areas, or about 90% of the US population. The CPI also provides area-specific inflation rates. The latest CPI data shows that in the Houston, TX area, inflation is lower than the US overall: 1.3% vs. 2.4%.
1.3%
headline inflation rate, all items (February 2025 to February 2026)
2.4%
annual inflation rate, all items in all urban areas in the US (February 2025 to February 2026)
The CPI-based inflation rates for metro areas are based on the same basket of goods and services used to track the national rate, with proportions adjusted to reflect local supply and demand. Each area assigns different levels of importance to over 200 categories—ranging from electricity to used cars—based on local spending patterns.
CPI reports include two inflation rates: headline and core. Headline inflation includes all consumer spending categories, such as food, housing, and transportation, offering a broad view of the overall cost of living. But because food and energy prices can be highly volatile due to factors like weather or supply chain disruptions, core inflation excludes these categories.
In February 2026, the Houston, TX area had a headline inflation rate of 1.3% and core inflation of 1.3%. Core inflation was the same as headline. That means food and energy had similar price increases over the previous year compared to other goods and services.
Headline inflation was similar to core inflation in February 2026.
Year-over-year percent change of CPI-U, Houston, TX area, not seasonally adjusted
Headline inflation in the Houston, TX area was lower than the national average for all urban areas. Houston, TX area price increases were lower in six CPI categories: Transportation, Medical care, Housing, Other goods and services, Food and beverages, and Education and communication. Of those, Education and communication inflation differed most between the area and the rest of the country. The annual inflation rate for Education and communication was -7.7% in the area, compared with 0.1% across the US.
In the Houston, TX area during February 2026, the inflation rate for apparel was 8.5%
Year-over-year percent change of CPI-U (February 2025 to February 2026), not seasonally adjusted
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
