Consumer Price Index rises 0.1% in May after 0.4% increase in April

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.1% in May on a seasonally adjusted basis, after increasing 0.4% in April, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. 

Over the last 12 months, the all-items index increased by 4% before the seasonal adjustment.

The index for shelter was the largest contributor to the monthly all-items increase, followed by an increase in the index for used cars and trucks. The food index increased 0.2% in May after being unchanged in the previous 2 months. The index for food at home rose 0.1% over the month while the index for food away from home rose 0.5%. The energy index, in contrast, declined 3.6% in May as the major energy component indexes fell.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.4% in May, as it did in April and March. Indexes that increased in May include shelter, used cars and trucks, motor vehicle insurance, apparel, and personal care. The index for household furnishings and operations and the index for airline fares were among those that decreased over the month.