US prices rose in April at their fastest rate since May 2023 as the impact of the war in Iran was increasingly felt by consumers.
A jump in the cost of gasoline and groceries pushed the consumer price index (CPI), the amount prices jumped by in the past 12 months, to 3.8%.
It is the highest level since inflation hit 4% three years ago.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) said almost half of the rise was driven by surging energy costs, while housing and food costs also contributed.
The US-Israel war in Iran, and the resulting effective closure of the key Strait of Hormuz shipping lane, has caused the price of a gallon of gas in the US to surge.
