US Consumer Price Index up 4.2%

Consumer Price Index Summary - 2026 M05 Results

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Consumer Price Index Summary

Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until 8:30 a.m. (ET) Wednesday, June 10, 2026 USDL-26-0824

Technical information: (202) 691-7000 * cpi_info@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/cpi Media contact: (202) 691-5902 * PressOffice@bls.gov

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX - MAY 2026

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.5 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in May, after rising 0.6 percent in April, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 4.2 percent before seasonal adjustment.

The index for energy rose 3.9 percent in May, after rising 3.8 percent in April and 10.9 percent in March. The energy index accounted for over sixty percent of the monthly all items increase. The index for shelter also increased in May, rising 0.3 percent. The food index increased 0.2 percent over the month as the food at home index rose 0.1 percent and the food away from home index increased 0.3 percent.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in May. Indexes that increased over the month include communication, airline fares, medical care, personal care, and recreation. Conversely, the indexes for motor vehicle insurance, household furnishings and operations, and new vehicles were among the major indexes that decreased in May.

The all items index rose 4.2 percent for the 12 months ending May, after rising 3.8 percent for the 12 months ending April. The all items less food and energy index rose 2.9 percent over the year, following a 2.8-percent increase over the 12 months ending April. The energy index increased 23.5 percent for the 12 months ending May. The food index increased 3.1 percent over the last year.

Table A. Percent changes in CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U): U.S. city average

Seasonally adjusted changes from preceding month Un- adjusted 12-mos. ended May 2026

Nov. 2025 Dec. 2025 Jan. 2026 Feb. 2026 Mar. 2026 Apr. 2026 May 2026

All items

0.3 0.2 0.3 0.9 0.6 0.5 4.2

Food

0.7 0.2 0.4 0.0 0.5 0.2 3.1

Food at home

0.6 0.2 0.4 -0.2 0.7 0.1 2.7

Food away from home(1)

0.7 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.3 3.5

Energy

0.3 -1.5 0.6 10.9 3.8 3.9 23.5

Energy commodities

-0.3 -3.3 1.1 21.3 5.6 6.7 40.6

Gasoline (all types)

2.7 -0.3 -3.2 0.8 21.2 5.4 7.0 40.5

Fuel oil

-0.8 -5.7 11.1 30.7 5.8 3.8 58.9

Energy services

1.0 0.2 0.2 0.4 1.6 0.4 5.3

Electricity

0.2 -0.1 -0.7 0.8 2.1 0.6 5.9

Utility (piped) gas service

3.7 1.0 3.1 -0.9 -0.1 -0.5 3.0

All items less food and energy

0.2 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.2 2.9

Commodities less food and energy commodities

0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.0 -0.1 1.1

New vehicles

0.2 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1 -0.2 -0.3 0.2

Used cars and trucks

0.1 -0.9 -1.8 -0.4 -0.4 0.0 0.1 -2.0

Apparel

0.3 0.3 1.3 1.0 0.6 0.3 4.8

Medical care commodities(1)

0.3 -0.1 0.0 -1.0 -0.4 -0.7 -1.8

Services less energy services

0.3 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.5 0.3 3.4

Shelter

0.4 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.6 0.3 3.4

Transportation services

0.4 1.4 0.2 0.6 0.3 -0.6 4.1

Medical care services

0.4 0.3 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.5 3.6

Footnotes

(1) Not seasonally adjusted.

NOTE: The Oct and Nov 2025 data values are not available due to the 2025 lapse in appropriations.

Food

The index for food rose 0.2 percent in May after rising 0.5 percent in April. The food at home index increased 0.1 percent over the month. Three of the six major grocery store food group indexes increased in May. The index for nonalcoholic beverages increased 0.6 percent over the month as the index for beverage materials including coffee and tea rose 1.1 percent. The cereals and bakery products index increased 0.4 percent in May and the fruits and vegetables index rose 0.2 percent.

In contrast, the index for dairy and related products fell 0.6 percent in May as the index for cheese declined 2.9 percent. The meats, poultry, fish, and eggs index decreased 0.2 percent over the month. The index for other food at home was unchanged in May.

The food away from home index rose 0.3 percent in May. The index for limited service meals and the index for full service meals both also rose 0.3 percent over the month.

The index for food at home rose 2.7 percent over the 12 months ending in May. The fruits and vegetables index rose 6.1 percent over the last 12 months. The index for nonalcoholic beverages increased 5.8 percent over the same period and the index for other food at home rose 2.0 percent. The meats, poultry, fish, and eggs index increased 1.8 percent over the 12 months ending in May and the cereals and bakery products index rose 1.9 percent over the same period. In contrast, the index for dairy and related products fell 1.0 percent over the year.

The food away from home index rose 3.5 percent over the last year. The index for full service meals rose 3.8 percent...

US Consumer Price Index up 4.2%

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