Core Inflation under Ronald Reagan
Core Inflation went from 11.3% in Ronald Reagan's first month to 4.9% at month 48: a change of −6.4 pts. At that point in office it ranks #8 of 9 administrations since 1969. Official data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
All administrations at month 48
| Rank | Administration | Value at month 48 | Change since month 1 | Latest / end of month 48 | Primary federal source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Donald Trump (first term) | 1.6% | −0.6 pts | 1.6% (month 48) | Bureau of Labor Statistics · CPILFESL |
| #2 | Barack Obama | 1.9% | +0.2 pts | 1.9% (month 48) | Bureau of Labor Statistics · CPILFESL |
| #3 | George W. Bush | 2.3% | −0.3 pts | 2.3% (month 48) | Bureau of Labor Statistics · CPILFESL |
| #4 | Bill Clinton | 2.6% | −0.8 pts | 2.6% (month 48) | Bureau of Labor Statistics · CPILFESL |
| #5 | Richard Nixon | 3.0% | −2.1 pts | 3.0% (month 48) | Bureau of Labor Statistics · CPILFESL |
| #6 | Joe Biden | 3.2% | +1.8 pts | 3.2% (month 48) | Bureau of Labor Statistics · CPILFESL |
| #7 | George H. W. Bush | 3.4% | −1.2 pts | 3.4% (month 48) | Bureau of Labor Statistics · CPILFESL |
| #8 | Ronald Reagan | 4.9% | −6.4 pts | 4.9% (month 48) | Bureau of Labor Statistics · CPILFESL |
| #9 | Jimmy Carter | 12.2% | +6.1 pts | 12.2% (month 48) | Bureau of Labor Statistics · CPILFESL |
Methodology and source verification
Year-over-year % change in CPI excluding food and energy (BLS). Lower ranks better.
Every administration is aligned to its own inauguration: month 1 is the month it took office, and the comparison runs to month 48 (the first term). Each administration is compared at the same month in office, so a president halfway through a term is never measured against another's full four years.
Primary source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Retrieved from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED), series CPILFESL, refreshed hourly. Latest observation 2026-09-01, first published 2026-10-14. Full methods: methodology.