U.S. inflation increases to a three-year high in May, with the annual consumer price index rising to around 4% as energy costs climb amid the war involving Iran. Multiple outlets report that the CPI reaches 4.2% year over year in May, the highest level in about three years, after 3.8% in April and 3.3% in March. The Labor Department data released this week shows inflation is being driven largely by higher energy prices, particularly gasoline, which have moved up as war-related tensions affect global fuel supply and prices. One report notes energy accounts for more than 60% of the increase, while core inflation—excluding volatile food and energy—rises more moderately to about 2.9%. Several summaries connect the acceleration to the period since the Iran war began in late February, describing a tightening of energy supply (including impacts related to the Strait of Hormuz) and a resulting surge in fuel costs. The reported figures are broadly described as meeting analyst expectations, though they mark a renewed upward trend with multiple consecutive monthly increases.