This Wednesday, June 10, 2026, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the Department of Labor reported that the Consumer Price Index rose 0.5% during the month of May, placing the inflation rate in the United States at 4.2% year-on-year from the 3.8% registered in April.

The skyrocketing increase in inflation in recent months is due in part to the rise in energy prices caused by the development of the war in the Middle East, which has led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly 20% of the world's crude oil transits.

Despite the efforts of the Federal Reserve's monetary policy regulators with the increase in interest rates to bring inflation to the 2% objectives, the shooting of the inflation rate at its highest level since 2023 is already weighing on the pockets of consumers, especially low-income ones, who are assuming higher expenses on basic goods.

According to the BLS report, the highest prices were observed in food with an increase of 0.2% in May; housing and rental, 0.3% and 0.5% respectively. Electricity prices rose 0.6%, gasoline rose 7% month-over-month, airfares rose 2.7%, while gas utilities fell 0.5% and, like transportation, which decreased 0.6% last month.

On the other hand, the Department of Labor reported that core inflation, which excludes food and energy prices, increased only 2.9% year-over-year compared to 2.8% in April.

Finally, the meeting of the Federal Reserve and the FOMC commissioners is expected next Wednesday, June 17, to learn about the decisions regarding interest rates, which until now remain in the range of 3.50%.