Inflation Zooms to Highest in Nearly 13 Years

Source: US Labor Department

U.S. headline inflation accelerated to 5% in May to reach its highest level in over 12 years.

• The all items index recorded its biggest year-on-year growth since inflation clocked in at 5.4% in August 2008.
• Inflation has been on an uptrend since January’s reading of 1.4%.
• Core inflation for the month came in at 3.8%, the highest in 28 years since June 1992.
• The seasonally adjusted Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the month grew 0.6% versus 0.8% in April.
• The index for used cars and trucks climbed 7.3% to account for about a third of inflation.
• The food index gained 0.4%, the same as the increase recorded the previous month.
• The energy index was flat after increases in electricity and natural gas prices were offset by the decline in gasoline prices.