Since January 2012, the Federal Reserve has adopted an explicit target of 2% inflation, measured as the 12-month change in the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index. And yet, after several years of below-target inflation prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation rose above 2% annually in March 2021 and has persisted above 2% ever since. According to the latest data available (August 2025), inflation remains significantly above target, at 2.7%.