Labor Dept Reports Inflation Rose Slightly In April

The Washington Post reports:

Inflation ticked up in April after an unexpected slowdown the month before, but the annual rate pace of inflation eased slightly to 2.3 percent compared to March, in a first test of Trump’s tariff policies.

The Labor Department’s consumer price index, a key gauge of inflation, rose 0.2 percent last month, reversing a slight decline in March.

Trump’s tariffs, many imposed in mid-April, marked a sharp escalation in his protectionist policies since he returned to the White House. While the full impact will take time to materialize, some importers rushed to bring in goods ahead of the deadline, and early price increases are showing up in private-sector data.

Read the full article.

Photo: Labor Sec. Lori Chavez-Deremer.

JUST IN: Inflation keeps cooling off despite Trump’s large tariffs. Inflation in April came in at 2.3% (y/y) —the smallest since February 2021.

Monthly inflation rose 0.2% in April. Over half of the April increase was due to rising shelter (rent) costs. Electricity and natural… pic.twitter.com/5iOMwOjjXK

— Heather Long (@byHeatherLong) May 13, 2025