WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, released this statement after data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that the Consumer Price Index has risen 4.2% over the last 12 months:
“An inflation rate of 4.2% is too high for American households to endure. Rising energy prices because of the war with Iran is the biggest reason the cost of living is going up and this Administration has no plan to deal with it.”
The Consumer Price Index increased 0.5% in May after rising 0.6% in April, translating to a year-over-year increase of 4.2%. Energy prices are a major contributing factor – the energy index accounted for over 60% of the monthly all-items increase. The index for energy rose 3.9% in May, after rising 3.8% in April and 10.9% in March.
According to a report released today by the Senate’s Joint Economic Committee – Minority, Washington families have had to spend $769 more on housing since January 2025 and a Washington family driving a pickup truck now has to spend $202 to fill up their tank, 28% more than before the Iran war.