The monthly CPI for May was up 4 percent over 12 months; that is down from the April to April annual increase of 4.9 percent and slightly below the pre-report expectations of 4.1 percent. The May increase of 0.1 percent was the smallest 12 month increase since April 2021.   A drop in energy prices over the past 12 months was the main factor in the lower CPI readout. Energy prices dropped by 11.7 percent from a year ago. Fuel oil was down 37 percent, gasoline down 19.7 percent, and natural gas was down 11 percent. Electricity, however, was up 5.9 percent. Food inflation was up 6.7 percent, with food at home up 5.8 percent and food away from home up 8.3 percent – limited service meals in the food away from home cateory excee...