May 2026 CPI by category
Year-over-year %.
About this data
Energy prices were up 23.5% year-over-year in May 2026 on the back of the oil shock, dwarfing shelter (+3.4%) and the core rate (+2.9%). Because shelter is more than a third of the CPI basket, its stickiness keeps the floor under inflation even as energy does the headline damage.
Year-over-year %. Energy is doing the damage; shelter remains sticky.
View data & sources →Data table
| pct | label | series | source_ref | value_basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23.5 | Energy | cpi_category | cnbc-cpi-may | May 2026: energy +23.5% YoY (the inflation driver) |
| 4.2 | All items (headline) | cpi_category | cnbc-cpi-may | May 2026: all items +4.2% YoY |
| 3.4 | Shelter | cpi_category | cnbc-cpi-may | May 2026: shelter +3.4% YoY (>1/3 of CPI weight) |
| 2.9 | Core (ex food & energy) | cpi_category | cnbc-cpi-may | May 2026: core +2.9% YoY |
Methodology & sources
Last updated: Jul 17, 2026Methodology
Source-backed values are seeded for both charts: the 2026 CPI path (headline vs core, year-over-year) and the May 2026 CPI breakdown by category. Every numeric point carries a sources[].ref and a value_basis. Figures are BLS CPI releases as reported by CNBC for each month. May 2026 headline CPI (+4.2%) was the highest since April 2023, driven by a 23.5% YoY rise in energy. CAVEAT: the Feb 2026 point shows headline only (core for that month was not in the cited reporting). Core PCE (the Fed’s preferred gauge) ran 3.3% YoY in April 2026 — noted here, not charted. Re-verified 2026-06-22.
Comparisons are informative, not definitive. See each source for definitions and limits.