Inflation in the Denver metro area has outpaced the national average in recent months, according to new data.

In February and March, prices in the area were up 0.22 percent, compared to 0.17 percent nationally, recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows.

“This has inverted the annual trend of national price growth outpacing Colorado,” the Common Sense Institute, a free-enterprise think tank, said in an analysis of the data.

Over the last 12 months, prices went up 1.9 percent in Denver while nationally prices increased 2.4 percent.

In February and March, costs went up for education and communications (5.34 percent), medical care (0.94 percent) and housing (0.53 percent). Costs went down for recreation (-1.3 percent), transportation (-.1 percent) and food (-.1 percent).

Year-over-year, the cost of energy went down 8.4 percent in Denver metro, while medical care went up 5.6 percent.

“The imposition of tariffs, and the subsequent pause, has jolted the international economy and sown uncertainty as to the future of global trade,” CSI said. “Despite the positive news on consumer price growth, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled that rates will likely remain unchanged as they wait to see how new tariff policies impact the economy.”

According to the think tank, inflation since 2020 has caused the average household in the state to spend more than $45,000.