What is the inflation rate of the Washington, DC area?
Updates published monthly
About 2.4%, as of March 2025. 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 the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metro Area, inflation is the same as the US overall: 2.4% vs. 2.4%.
2.4%
annual inflation rate, all items in Washington, DC area (Mar 2024 to Mar 2025)
2.4%
annual inflation rate, all items in all urban areas in the US (Mar 2024 to Mar 2025)
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 March 2025, the Washington, DC area had a headline inflation rate of 2.4% and core inflation of 2.7%. Core inflation was higher than headline. That means food and energy had lower price increases over the previous year compared to other goods and services.
Headline inflation was lower than core inflation in March 2025.
Year-over-year percent change of CPI-U, Washington, DC area, not seasonally adjusted
Headline inflation in the Washington, DC area was equal to the national average for all urban areas. Washington, DC area price increases were higher in two CPI categories: education and communication, and recreation. Of those, recreation inflation differed most between the area and the rest of the country. The annual inflation rate for recreation was 7.7% in the area, compared with 1.9% across the US.
In the Washington, DC area during March 2025, the inflation rate for recreation was 7.7%.
Year-over-year percent change of CPI-U (March 2024 to March 2025), not seasonally adjusted
Keep exploring
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.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics
Consumer Price Index
