Inflation report
The May 2020 inflation report in charts
Consumer prices were 0.1% higher in May 2020 than a year earlier. That inflation rate was down from 0.3% in April 2020 and down from 1.8% in May 2019. Rent was 3.5% higher than a year earlier. Average hourly pay was 6.6% higher than a year earlier.
Inflation rate
0.1%
Down from 0.3% in April 2020
Rent, change over 12 months
3.5%
The same as 3.5% in April 2020
Hourly pay, change over 12 months
6.6%
$29.72 an hour on average
The inflation rate, May 2018 to May 2020
The interactive chart needs JavaScript. The numbers are in the table below.
How fast rent is rising, May 2018 to May 2020
The interactive chart needs JavaScript. The numbers are in the table below.
How fast hourly pay is rising, May 2018 to May 2020
The interactive chart needs JavaScript. The numbers are in the table below.
The numbers
Each month to May 2020, newest first. A dash means BLS published no figure.
| Month | Inflation rate | Rent, 12-month change | Hourly pay, 12-month change |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2020 | 0.1% | 3.5% | 6.6% |
| Apr 2020 | 0.3% | 3.5% | 8.1% |
| Mar 2020 | 1.5% | 3.7% | 3.5% |
| Feb 2020 | 2.3% | 3.8% | 3.1% |
| Jan 2020 | 2.5% | 3.8% | 3.0% |
| Dec 2019 | 2.3% | 3.7% | 3.0% |
| Nov 2019 | 2.1% | 3.7% | 3.3% |
| Oct 2019 | 1.8% | 3.7% | 3.2% |
| Sep 2019 | 1.7% | 3.8% | 3.1% |
| Aug 2019 | 1.7% | 3.7% | 3.4% |
| Jul 2019 | 1.8% | 3.8% | 3.4% |
| Jun 2019 | 1.6% | 3.9% | 3.5% |
| May 2019 | 1.8% | 3.7% | 3.3% |
| Apr 2019 | 2.0% | 3.8% | 3.3% |
| Mar 2019 | 1.9% | 3.7% | 3.4% |
| Feb 2019 | 1.5% | 3.5% | 3.6% |
| Jan 2019 | 1.6% | 3.4% | 3.3% |
| Dec 2018 | 1.9% | 3.5% | 3.5% |
| Nov 2018 | 2.2% | 3.6% | 3.4% |
| Oct 2018 | 2.5% | 3.6% | 3.3% |
| Sep 2018 | 2.3% | 3.6% | 3.1% |
| Aug 2018 | 2.7% | 3.6% | 3.2% |
| Jul 2018 | 2.9% | 3.6% | 2.8% |
| Jun 2018 | 2.9% | 3.6% | 2.9% |
| May 2018 | 2.8% | 3.6% | 2.9% |
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Sources and notes
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index (CPI-U, all items) (Public domain (U.S. government work)), data as of September 30, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index (rent of primary residence) (Public domain (U.S. government work)), data as of September 30, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics (average hourly earnings of all employees, total private) (Public domain (U.S. government work)), data as of September 30, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) (Public domain (U.S. government work)), data as of September 30, 2026.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes each month's Consumer Price Index around the middle of the next month. The inflation rate is how much the index for all items (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted) changed from the same month a year earlier; rent and everyday items are measured the same way. BLS collected no prices in October 2025, during a lapse in federal funding, so there is no inflation rate for that month or for the year to October 2026. Hourly pay is BLS's average hourly earnings of private-sector employees.