Arabic version: ارتفاع التضخم في الولايات المتحدة مع ارتفاع أسعار الطاقة خلال الصراع مع إيران

Consumer prices in the United States increased for the second month in a row, with energy costs significantly driving this trend. According to Al Jazeera, the consumer price index (CPI) rose by 0.6 percent in April, following a 0.9 percent increase in March. This marks the largest annual increase in almost three years, with prices rising 3.8 percent compared to the same time last year.

Energy prices have been particularly volatile, surging by 17.9 percent year-over-year, with petrol prices climbing 28.4 percent. As of May 12, the average price for a gallon of petrol is $4.50, significantly up from $2.98 when hostilities with Iran began on February 28. The rising fuel costs have also impacted airfares, which increased by 2.8 percent due to higher jet fuel prices, leading to operational challenges for airlines like Spirit Airlines, which ceased operations earlier this month.

The White House has indicated that the price increases may be temporary, with spokesperson Kush Desai attributing some disruptions to ongoing military operations. Despite these assertions, economists warn that the conflict with Iran is likely to maintain elevated prices.

In addition to energy, grocery prices have also seen notable increases. Overall grocery prices rose by 0.7 percent, with specific categories such as meat, poultry, fish, and eggs seeing a 2.7 percent spike. Some items, like tomatoes, have jumped nearly 40 percent compared to last year. Conversely, prices for eggs have decreased by 39 percent year-over-year, although they rose slightly month-to-month.

As inflation concerns grow, U.S. markets reacted negatively to the CPI report, with major indices like the Nasdaq and Dow Jones experiencing declines. The Federal Reserve is expected to maintain interest rates, despite calls for cuts from President Trump, as the economy shows signs of stability amidst rising inflation.