Consumer prices rose 4.2% annually in May, highest in three years
Source: CNBC
Published Wed, Jun 10 2026 8:30 AM EDT Updated 1 Min Ago
Inflation accelerated in May as rising energy costs contributed to pain for consumers, though underlying pressures were less intense.
The consumer price index, a broad gauge of goods and services costs across the U.S. economy, rose at a seasonally adjusted 0.5% for the month, putting the annual inflation rate at 4.2%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday. Both numbers were in line with the Dow Jones consensus.
Inflation climbed above 4% for the first time in three years, though the increase met expectations amid concerns over how much the surge in energy prices would impact the economy. The level was the highest since April 2023 and above the 3.8% level from April.

However, stripping out volatile food and energy prices, the so-called core CPI accelerated 0.2% for the month and 2.9% from a year ago. While the annual rate was in line with the forecast, the monthly gain was below the 0.3% estimate and less than the 0.4% April increase.
Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/10/cpi-inflation-report-may-2026.html
From the source -
Link to tweet
@BLS_gov
CPI for all items rises 0.5% in May; gasoline and shelter up bls.gov/news.release/c... #CPI #BLSdata
12:32 PM · Jun 10, 2026
Article updated.
Previous article -
Inflation accelerated in May as rising energy costs contributed to pain for consumers, though underlying pressures were less intense.
The consumer price index, a broad gauge of goods and services costs across the U.S. economy, rose at a seasonally adjusted 0.5% for the month, putting the annual inflation rate at 4.2%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday. Both numbers were in line with the Dow Jones consensus.
Inflation climbed above 4% for the first time in three years, though the increase met expectations amid concerns over how much the surge in energy prices would impact the economy. The level was the highest since April 2023 and above the 3.8% level from April.
However, stripping out volatile food and energy prices, the so-called core CPI accelerated 0.2% for the month and 2.9% from a year ago. While the annual rate was in line with the forecast, the monthly gain was below the 0.3% estimate.
This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates.
Original article -
The consumer price index for May was expected to show a 4.2% gain from a year ago, according to the Dow Jones consensus estimate.
This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates.
marble falls
(73,022 posts)Mr.Bee
(1,941 posts)NT
twodogsbarking
(19,589 posts)groundloop
(13,971 posts)These numbers are coming from the BLS which has tRump's hand chosen director. The previous director was sacked for refusing to "cook the books" in tRump's favor.
marble falls
(73,022 posts)... more years to go on the mortgage and we're preparing to sell it. Bought two new cars with cash, filled the pantry with shelf stable foods: pastas, rice, beans cans of tuna, chicken, dried a lot of fruit. I think the longer he's in the WH, the worse it's going to get. I've been walking our backyard and the neighborhood for areas to forage if it really hits the fan.
I'm betting on this election in Nov. If we can't take Congress: prepare for the worst.
sinkingfeeling
(58,165 posts)progree
(13,099 posts)I'll add more info later after I make some notes on the news summary https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm
CPI data series: https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/CUSR0000SA0
Core CPI data series: http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/CUSR0000SA0L1E
As always, I prefer to show everything annualized so as to compare to the Fed's 2% goal and to each other
Regular CPI (includes food & energy)
Red line indicates the Federal Reserve's 2.0% inflation target

CORE CPI (EXcludes food & energy)
Red line indicates the Federal Reserve's 2.0% inflation target

Percent increases over the past month, over the past 3 months, and over the past 12 months, seasonally adjusted numbers, ANNUALIZED
1 mo 3 mo 12mo
---- ---- ----
5.8% 8.2% 4.2% Regular CPI (includes food & energy)
2.5% 3.2% 2.8% Core CPI (does not have food or energy)
2.0% 2.0% 2.0% Federal Reserve Target
Wicked Blue
(9,069 posts)Eight items - $144. I was shocked, especially at the price of instant coffee.
2 packages Bounty paper towels -- $28.49 each
1 package Kirkland TP -- $20.99
1 package paper napkins -- $11.99
1 double package of Cheerios -- $6.79
2 packages Cascadian Farms cereal -- $14.29 each
1 container Taster's Choice instant coffee -- $21.49.
Weren't paper towels about $20 just a couple of years ago?
Wasn't TP more like $18?
The Cascadian Farms cereal was more like $11.99 not that long ago.
And the coffee. It was around $14.99 - now it's $21.49.
Damned oligarch inflation ever since the Orange Traitor began squatting in the White House again.
BumRushDaShow
(172,884 posts)thanks to a better growing season this year.
Johnny2X2X
(24,507 posts)Right now the "experts" are expecting it to peak around 5%, I do not see how that's possible, we're just starting to realize the price hikes due to fuel prices. There's a ton of other hikes already built in but not yet realized. Food prices are going to soar soon as farmers have not been able to get fertilizer.
We're going to hit 6% inflation before the elections IMO and the it still might go up from that.
Buddyzbuddy
(2,963 posts)from your monthly spending and voila!
No more high inflation.
It's like the Felon says, he doesn't think gas prices are that high. In fact, to paraphrase, he doesn't really think about it. Besides, the Iran war will be over in a couple of years, err, I mean a couple of days.
D_Master81
(2,722 posts)I was like other than the most essential items and rolled my eyes.
Mr.Bee
(1,941 posts)LetMyPeopleVote
(183,243 posts)Last edited Wed Jun 10, 2026, 03:45 PM - Edit history (1)
Inflation continues to grow faster than wages, which necessarily exacerbates the affordability crisis for American consumers.
U.S. inflation surged again in May, pushed higher by the effects of the war in Iran - MS NOW apple.news/AteXedGBsQhi...
— Ms. Kevin (@kkalmes31.bsky.social) 2026-06-10T13:04:18.267Z
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/u-s-inflation-surge-may-2026-war-iran
The consumer price index, a broad gauge of goods and services costs across the U.S. economy, rose at a seasonally adjusted 0.5% for the month, putting the annual inflation rate at 4.2%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday. Both numbers were in line with the Dow Jones consensus.
Inflation climbed above 4% for the first time in three years, though the increase met expectations amid concerns over how much the surge in energy prices would impact the economy. The level was the highest since April 2023 and above the 3.8% level from April.
Asked for his reaction to the developments, Trump said the latest inflation data was great, adding, I love the inflation. (He went on to claim that his love for inflation is based on a secret program that takes Iranian oil. Its unclear whether that program exists in reality.)
Q: Are you concerned about the latest inflation numbers that came out this morning?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-06-10T16:08:03.927Z
TRUMP: No, I love it. I love the inflation. You know why? Because as soon as this war is over -- do you know we've been taking out millions of barrels of oil? You know who doesn't know? Iran until right now.
As for whats driving the discouraging data, it is to the surprise of no one energy costs that are pushing prices higher, which is the direct result of the war with Iran.
Perhaps most importantly, NBC News report emphasized that inflations rise has surpassed wage growth, which necessarily exacerbates the affordability crisis gripping American consumers......
And no one is buying it. The latest national CNN poll found that 77% of respondents, including a majority of Republican voters, agreed that Trumps policies have increased the cost of living. The same poll found that just 30% of Americans approve of the presidents handling of the economy, a career low for the Republican across both terms. That mirrored the results of the latest national Associated Press poll.
LetMyPeopleVote
(183,243 posts)Old Crank
(7,392 posts)Even the underlying inflation is well above the 2% line the Fed and others would like to hold.
We can expect high gas prices for a while longer. They may even go further up unless the strait opens soon.
durablend
(9,431 posts)A sign that we're "WINNING"!!!!!
Johnny2X2X
(24,507 posts)Not the Onion.
I love it; the numbers were great, Trump said. You know what I really love? I love the inflation.
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(138,218 posts)LetMyPeopleVote
(183,243 posts)

Hassler
(4,982 posts)progree
(13,099 posts)"real" is BLS-speak for inflation-adjusted. Actually earnings (in nominal dollars) went up, but prices (CPI) went up faster.
SOURCE: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/realer.nr0.htm
For production and non-supervisor workers:
real average hourly earnings down 0.3% from April to May, and down 0.8% in last 12 months
There's also info on real average WEEKLY earnings at the above link - they weren't quite as bad because the average workweek increased, but still down.
This, https://www.bls.gov/news.release/realer.nr0.htm , is the essential companion piece of the CPI report - it comes out the same time as the CPI report
Thanks LetMyPeopleVote for the 2 posts above on the issue.
======================================================
While I'm at it: no, Trump's hand-picked person is not head of the BLS.
The acting director of the BLS is William J. Wiatrowski, a long time deputy director
who has been acting director a number of times before.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bureau_of_Labor_Statistics
That bozo, E.J Antoni that tRump nominated then withdrew his nomination after a lot of pushback. So Wiatrowski is still leading.
This furrow has been plowed many times before here in LBN.

