Donald Trump revealed that he "likes inflation" currently facing the U.S., after consumer prices in May rose at the fastest rate in three years.
On Wednesday, 10 Jun 2026 GMT+7, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the latest inflation figures showing that prices in May increased by 4.2% compared to the same period last year, rising from 3.8% in April. This marks the fastest inflation increase in three years.
This inflation rise is mainly due to higher energy costs resulting from the war involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran.
When asked about the inflation increase, U.S. President Donald Trump responded, “I like it. Those numbers are great. Do you know what? I really like this inflation.”
Additionally, the president claimed that the U.S. military conducted midnight operations involving dozens of ships transporting millions of barrels of oil out of Iran, which contributed to a slight decrease in oil prices.
However, Brent crude oil, the global benchmark, continues to trade at prices clearly above pre-war levels.
Wednesday marked the third consecutive month that the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose, causing households to increasingly feel the strain from the U.S. and Israel’s war in Iran.
Overall, total energy costs—including cooking gas and electricity—in May were nearly one-quarter higher than the same period last year, with gasoline prices being the main driver of this increase.
According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the current average price of regular gasoline in the U.S. is $4.15 per gallon, a significant increase from $2.98 on 28 Feb, the day the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran.
Furthermore, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) highlighted rising costs of airline tickets, personal services, healthcare, recreation, and communication services.
This higher inflation raises the likelihood that the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) will raise interest rates to try to curb spending, as it aims to maintain long-term inflation near 2%.
The last time inflation was higher was in April 2023, when the U.S. was still dealing with the energy shock triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Many economists warn that even if the Iran war ends quickly, it may take until 2027 for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to return to normal, meaning elevated prices could persist for some time.
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Source:bbc