TIPS: How U.S. Inflation-Protected Treasury Bonds Work
Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities, known as TIPS, are one of the few fixed-income instruments that offer investors a direct hedge against rising consumer prices. Issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury in 5-year, 10-year, and 30-year maturities, TIPS adjust their principal value in lockstep with the Consumer Price Index (CPI), ensuring that both interest payments and the eventual return of principal keep pace with inflation. For investors navigating a landscape where the CPI index reached 326.588 in January 2026 — up from 319.679 a year earlier, reflecting approximately 2.2% year-over-year inflation — understanding how these securities function is essential to building a resilient portfolio. As of February 2026, the TIPS market is sending nuanced signals. The average TIPS real yield sits at roughly 0.983%, while the 10-year nominal Treasury yields 4.02%. The gap between these two figures — the breakeven inflation rate of approximately 3.04% — represents the market's consensus forecast for average annual inflation over the next decade. With the Federal Reserve having cut the federal funds rate to 3.64% from 4.33% in early 2025, and inflation running below the breakeven level, TIPS occupy a particularly interesting position in the current rate environment. This guide explains how TIPS work, how to evaluate them, and how they compare to other inflation-protection strategies. Whether you are a seasoned fixed-income investor or exploring Treasury securities for the first time, this article — part of our [/treasury/](/treasury/) hub — provides the data-driven analysis you need to make informed decisions about inflation-protected bonds.