The war in the Middle East continues to impact the world's largest economy, as inflation in the United States accelerated more than expected in April. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.6% on a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, bringing the annual variation to 3.8%. Although the figure reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) was in line with projections, the annual rate exceeded the consensus of economists surveyed by Dow Jones by 0.1 percentage point. It is also the highest annual reading since May 2023 and represents half a percentage point more than the March figure. This compares to the 1.3% that the CPI showed in Chile in the same month, accumulating an interannual increase of 4%. What happened in April with the CPI? The core CPI, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.4% monthly and 2.8% annually, remaining above the 2% target set by the Federal Reserve. The annual core inflation rose 0.2 percentage points compared to the previous month. Strong increase in gasoline prices in the United States. GUILLERMO ARIAS Amid the significant increase in oil and fuel prices, official data shows that energy was the main driver of the increase, with a monthly increase of 3.8% and 17.9% in twelve months. The gasoline index accumulated an annual increase of 28.4%. Food prices rose 0.5% in the month and 3.2% in the year. Inflationary pressures also extended to other components. Housing costs rose 0.6%, the clothing category rose 0.6%, and airfares increased 2.8% monthly, with an annual increase of 20.7%. Household goods registered an increase of 0.7%, a movement that analysts attribute in part to the impact of tariffs. The report also reported a decline in real wages. The average hourly wage fell 0.5% in the month and 0.3% in annual terms. NEWSLETTER Pulso PM Monday to Friday, 12:30 PM The most relevant news in markets, companies, and business: timely information, context, and content to make better decisions. By subscribing, you accept the Terms and Conditions and the Privacy Policies of La Tercera.