US inflation is at its highest since 1981

Inflation in the United States in May in annual terms amounted to 8.6%, which was the highest value since December 1981.

Price growth for the month amounted to 1%, which significantly exceeded analysts' forecasts, which expected that it would not exceed 0.7%.

The main factor influencing the overall level of inflation is energy prices - over the year they have risen in price by 50.3%, over the last month - by 4.5%. Food prices for the month and year rose by 1.2% and 10.1%, respectively.

• High inflation in the United States has been observed since the beginning of 2021. Initially, the authorities called this a temporary phenomenon, which is associated with the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. Subsequently, the factors influencing inflation were added to the general increase in energy prices, as well as the war in Ukraine, which led to the disruption of the usual supply chains of goods.
• In addition to the United States, record levels of inflation are also observed in Europe. In the Eurozone, prices rose by 8.1% in May.