U.S consumer prices barely rose at all in May, the fourth straight month of mild inflation and a sign that the Trump administration’s tariffs have not raised prices on American households.
The consumer price index, the government’s main inflation indicator, 0.1 percent compared with a month earlier, the Department of Labor said Wednesday. Core prices, a measure that excludes volatile food and energy prices, also climbed just 0.1 percent.
Compared with a year ago, consumer prices are up 2.4 percent. Core prices have risen 2.8 percent.
Economists had forecast prices would rise 0.2 percent, matching the tame inflation figure reported for April. Core prices were expected to rise 0.3 percent, a slightly faster pace than the 0.2 percent seen in the prior month.
President Donald Trump’s presidency has been characterized by low inflation, defying predictions that his trade policies would push up consumer prices.
