The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) was unchanged in May on a seasonally adjusted
basis, after rising 0.3 percent in April, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the
last 12 months, the all items index increased 3.3 percent before seasonal adjustment.More than offsetting a decline in gasoline, the index for shelter rose in May, up 0.4 percent for the
fourth consecutive month. The index for food increased 0.1 percent in May. The food away from home index
rose 0.4 percent over the month, while the food at home index was unchanged. The energy index fell 2.0
percent over the month, led by a 3.6-percent decrease in the gasoline index.The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in May, after rising 0.3 percent the
preceding month. Indexes which increased in May include shelter, medical care, used cars and trucks, and
education. The indexes for airline fares, new vehicles, communication, recreation, and apparel were
among those that decreased over the month.The all items index rose 3.3 percent for the 12 months ending May, a smaller increase than the
3.4-percent increase for the 12 months ending April. The all items less food and energy index rose 3.4
percent over the last 12 months. The energy index increased 3.7 percent for the 12 months ending May. The
food index increased 2.1 percent over the last year.
emphasis added
The change in both CPI and core CPI were below expectations. I’ll post a graph later today after the Cleveland Fed releases the median and trimmed-mean CPI.