The government reported Friday that consumer prices climbed 8.6% over the year through May, the fastest rate of increase in four decades.
Americans are confronting more expensive food, fuel and housing, and some are grasping for answers about what is causing the price burst, how long it might last and what can be done to resolve it.
Here’s a guide to understanding what’s happening with inflation and how to think about price gains when navigating this complicated moment in the U.S. and world economy.
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