Consumer Price Index up 2.8 percent over the year ending May 2018
Over the year ending May 2018, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 2.8 percent.
Over the last 12 months, food prices increased 1.2 percent, with prices for food away from home rising 2.7 percent, and prices for food at home rising 0.1 percent. Prices for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs increased 2.3 percent over the last year; that was the only one of the six major grocery store food groups to increase.
Energy prices increased 11.7 percent over the past year, with prices for three of the four major components rising. Gasoline prices increased 21.8 percent, fuel oil prices rose 25.3 percent, and electricity prices increased 1.0 percent. Prices for natural gas fell 0.8 percent over the year.
Prices for all items less food and energy rose 2.2 percent over the past 12 months. Prices for shelter rose 3.5 percent over the last 12 months, and prices for medical care services rose 2.3 percent. Prices that declined over the past 12 months include those for new vehicles, airline fares, used cars and trucks, and communication.
These data are from the BLS Consumer Price Index program and are not seasonally adjusted. To learn more, see "Consumer Price Index — May 2018." Also see Charts related to the latest "U.S. Consumer Price Index" news release.