Inflation in Utah

Utah seems to be in a decent economic position. Depending on the measure, its inflation is between 3.2% and 3.6% (below the national rate of 3.8%), and its unemployment rate is 3.8%. Utah’s inflation rate is slightly above the national 15-year average (2.6%), while its unemployment rate is well below the national 15-year average (5.4%).

Figures 1, 2, and 4 from the interactive dashboard: Current year-over-year inflation rate for all U.S. urban areas and the four primary inflation subcategories.

Energy and meat prices likely account for much of people’s inflation-heartburn, with the former accounting for the largest share of the recent rise in the inflation rate.

Most Recent Inflation Dashboard – Updated with April 2026 Data

The Utah Foundation’s interactive dashboard allows residents is to:

Explore current rates.
Compare rates for Western and Mountain States urban areas.
Break down the overall rate into major components.
Highlight some specific factors of interest.

The interactive dashboards represent a point-in-time snapshot. Our full list of dashboards are included below:

May Snapshot based on April 2026 data.

You can also read additional Utah Foundation research on inflation and the economy at large.

Op-ed: Don’t just read the headlines on inflation – In this article, Shawn Teigen focuses on how annual rates obscure monthly variations.
Op-ed: Is our inflation too high? The math, explained – In this article, Shawn Teigen informs how month-to-month fluctuations can be hidden in the annual rates.
Op-ed: Utah in good position to weather the next recession – In this article, Shawn Teigen addresses how Utah is well situated to whether the banking crisis of early 2023.
Utah Thrives Podcast | Utahns’ Misery – In this podcast, Shawn Teigen talks with Dr. Steve Hanke about Utah Foundation’s Misery Index – which includes inflation among four other factors.