Consumer prices rose 3.8% annually in April, the highest since May 2023

Prices that consumers pay for a wide range of goods and services increased at a faster-than-expected pace in April, raising further concerns about the inflationary impact on the U.S. economy.

The consumer price index rose at a seasonally adjusted 0.6% for the month, putting the one-year pace at 3.8%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday. The monthly rate was as forecast, but the annual rate was 0.1 percentage point above the Dow Jones consensus.

Excluding food and energy, core CPI increased 0.4% and 2.8% respectively, indicating that while inflation is still well above the Federal Reserve’s 2% goal, a good deal of pressure is coming from non-core areas, particularly energy.

The annual headline inflation rate was the highest since May 2023.