Business
US CPI Inflation Surges to 4.2% in May, Highest Since 2023, as Energy Prices Climb
WASHINGTON — U.S. consumer prices accelerated in May, rising 4.2% from a year earlier in the sharpest annual gain since April 2023, as surging energy costs linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East pushed inflation higher than many households can comfortably absorb.
The Labor Department reported Wednesday that the Consumer Price Index increased 0.5% for the month, matching economists’ expectations. Energy prices alone jumped 3.9% in May and accounted for more than 60% of the overall monthly increase, highlighting how global events continue to ripple through American wallets at the gas pump and grocery store.
“Today’s CPI data confirmed our expectation that higher energy costs and their ripple effects on the costs of transportation and food would drive May headline CPI higher,” said Atsi Sheth, chief credit officer at Moody’s Ratings.
The report arrives more than three months into heightened conflict involving Iran, which has disrupted energy markets and contributed to volatile fuel prices. Food prices rose modestly by 0.2% in May, with declines in some categories like cheese offset by continued increases in coffee and other staples.
Core Inflation and Underlying Pressures
Excluding volatile food and energy categories, core CPI rose 0.2% for the month and 2.9% year-over-year, in line with forecasts. While core measures remain closer to the Federal Reserve’s 2% target, the headline figure underscores persistent challenges in bringing overall inflation under control.
The data reinforces expectations that the Federal Reserve will hold interest rates steady at its June meeting. Policymakers have emphasized data-dependent decisions, and Wednesday’s report keeps inflation well above the central bank’s long-term goal. Wholesale price data due Thursday will provide additional context for Fed officials.
Impact on Workers and Households
Rising prices are squeezing American families. Real average hourly earnings fell 0.1% in May, meaning wage gains failed to keep pace with inflation. Middle- and lower-income households are feeling the strain particularly acutely on essentials such as gas, electricity, food and medical care.
“Americans are getting squeezed financially,” Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, posted on X. “This isn’t just ‘bad vibes’ about the economy. There is real pain, especially for middle-class and lower-income households. It’s tough because so many basic items are seeing sizable price increases: gas, electricity, food, medical care.”
Auto insurance prices provided one bright spot, declining 1.7% from April, while hospital services rose 0.7%. Transportation costs overall climbed alongside energy, affecting everything from commuting to shipping goods.
Broader Economic Implications
The inflation uptick complicates the economic narrative as the U.S. navigates a period of relative stability in growth and employment. Last week’s jobs report showed a labor market that remains broadly balanced, but persistent price pressures keep the Federal Reserve in a cautious stance.
Economists warn that sustained energy-driven inflation could delay rate cuts that many businesses and consumers have been anticipating. Higher borrowing costs continue to weigh on sectors like housing and consumer spending, even as corporate earnings in some areas remain resilient.
The 4.2% annual reading marks the highest since early 2023, when inflation was still cooling from post-pandemic peaks. Progress made over the past two years now faces headwinds from external shocks, particularly in global energy markets.
Sector Breakdown and Trends
Energy remains the dominant driver, with gasoline and electricity costs climbing sharply. Food-at-home prices showed mixed movements, while shelter costs — a major component of CPI — continued their gradual moderation but still contribute significantly to the overall index.
Medical care and transportation services added upward pressure. Apparel and recreation categories were more stable, offering limited relief for household budgets already stretched by higher costs for necessities.
Analysts expect energy prices to remain volatile until greater certainty emerges in the Middle East. Any escalation or resolution in geopolitical tensions could quickly shift the inflation trajectory in coming months.
Federal Reserve and Policy Outlook
Fed officials have repeatedly signaled patience, monitoring incoming data before adjusting policy. The current federal funds rate range leaves limited room for immediate easing, especially with inflation reaccelerating. Markets have pushed back expectations for rate cuts later in the year, reflecting the stickiness of price pressures.
The combination of solid employment and elevated inflation creates a delicate balancing act for policymakers. Strong job numbers reduce the urgency for cuts, while higher prices risk eroding consumer confidence and spending power.
Consumer and Business Perspectives
For American families, the latest CPI print translates into higher costs for daily life. Budgets for groceries, commuting and utilities are under renewed strain, particularly in regions heavily dependent on driving or heating and cooling.
Businesses face their own challenges, with input costs rising and the ability to pass those along to consumers varying by industry. Some sectors report margin compression as price sensitivity limits pricing power.
Longer-term, sustained moderate inflation around 2% remains the goal. The current deviation highlights vulnerabilities in global supply chains and energy dependence, prompting calls for greater diversification and investment in domestic production.
Looking Ahead
June’s inflation data will be closely watched, along with retail sales and other indicators that paint a fuller picture of consumer health. The path of energy prices will likely remain the primary variable influencing headline CPI in the near term.
Economists will continue debating whether the latest uptick represents a temporary blip or a more concerning trend. For now, the data reinforces a narrative of resilient but pressured economic growth, with inflation reemerging as a top concern for households, businesses and policymakers alike.
The May CPI report serves as a reminder of the complex interplay between global events and domestic price levels. As the Federal Reserve and other institutions analyze the numbers, American families continue navigating an environment where wage growth struggles to match the pace of rising costs. The coming months will test the economy’s ability to absorb these pressures while maintaining momentum.
Business
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Wipro’s Rs 15,000 crore buyback opens today: Analysts expect 7-8% returns for retail investors. Here’s how
Wipro’s buyback will remain open from June 10 to June 17 during which the company will buy back up to 5.7% of its total paid-up share capital. The record date for the buyback was fixed on June 5, which means that only those shareholders who owned shares of the company on that day would be eligible to tender shares in the offer, and investors taking fresh positions today will not qualify.
Key things to know about Wipro’s buyback
Under Wipro’s buyback offer, eligible shareholders in the reserved category for small shareholders are entitled to tender 11 equity shares for every 56 equity shares held as on the record date (June 5). For shareholders falling under the general category, the buyback entitlement has been fixed at 10 equity shares for every 197 equity shares held on the record date.
Buyback of shares refers to a corporate action where a company repurchases its own shares from the existing shareholders. Usually, the company purchases the shares at a higher price than the current levels, encouraging investors to participate. Notably, Wipro has said that its promoters and promoter groups have indicated their intention to participate in the buyback. They can tender a maximum of 745 crore shares.
How can you participate in Wipro buyback?
Wipro shareholders can participate in the share buyback by placing a bid through a stock broker registered either with the BSE or the NSE via a separate window that would open up on the stock exchanges. The registrar will complete the verification of tendered shares by June 19, 2026. Thereafter, the final acceptance or rejection of shares tendered under the buyback will be communicated to the stock exchanges by June 23. The payment will be made to the eligible shareholders by June 24.
After the buyback, Wipro will return the unaccepted shares by June 24, as per the schedule shared by the IT giant in its exchange filing. “Eligible Shareholders must ensure that their demat account(s) is active and unblocked for receipt of unaccepted shares and that their bank account is linked with their demat account for credit of remittance on acceptance of equity shares under the buyback,” the company said.
How much profit can retail investors make from Wipro buyback?
Let’s take an investor who bought 1,008 shares of Wipro at Rs 198 apiece before the record date and is planning to tender shares in the buyback for example. The total value of her shares as on the record date stood at Rs 1,99,584, making her eligible for Wipro’s reserved category for small shareholders (less than Rs 2 lakh).
As per the entitlement ratio, she will be entitled to tender 198 shares out of her 1,008 stock holding (11 equity shares for every 56 equity shares held as on the record date). It is important to note that not all shares she tenders may be accepted in the buyback process.
However, for the shares accepted as part of the buyback, she will earn Rs 52 per share at the buyback price of Rs 250 per share, much higher than what she would have made if she sold the shares at the current market price of less than Rs 180.
Analysts on Wipro buyback
Sunny Agrawal, Head of Fundamental Research at SBI Securities, said that any retail investor holding shares within the small shareholder category (total value of shareholding below Rs 2 lakh as on the record date) should tender all her shares in the buyback.
“A retail investor holding up to 1,008 shares as on the record date will be eligible to tender around 212 shares (assuming an acceptance ratio of approximately 21% versus an entitlement ratio of 19.7%) at the buyback price of Rs 250, implying a gain of around Rs 70 per share over the current market price,” the analyst explained.Based on this calculation, the investor can earn a potential profit of around Rs 14,800, implying a 7.4% return on a total portfolio of Rs 2 lakh, Agrawal said. “While this is beneficial, the absolute return remains moderate rather than highly attractive,” he added. This is a good option for investors who acquired shares at Rs 198 or higher (as per the buyback document, on the record date, the closing price on NSE was Rs 198.37), according to the analyst.
Also Read | Should retail investors tender shares in Wipro’s buyback?
Harshal Dasani, Business Head at INVasset PMS, also said that existing eligible retail shareholders tendering shares in the buyback seem to be rational as the accepted portion can be sold back at a fixed premium.
If we assume Wipro’s market price at around Rs 181 apiece, the spread will roughly be Rs 69 per accepted share before tax and costs, Dasani explained, adding that on the entitlement alone, about 19 to 20 shares out of every 100 may get accepted, though the final acceptance can be higher depending on participation.
Narendra Solanki, Head of Fundamental Research of Investment Services at Anand Rathi Shares and Stock Brokers, calculated that retail or reserved category investors who are holding Wipro shares less than Rs 2 lakh as on the record date will likely have an acceptance ratio of 20%, and may earn a profit of approximately 7.7%.
What is the real risk?
The real risk is the unaccepted portion of shares, Dasani cautioned. If the stock weakens after the buyback, especially in a bearish IT and broader market setup, the residual holding can dilute the apparent arbitrage return, he explained.
“So this is a tactical buyback opportunity, not a reason to become structurally positive on Wipro or Nifty IT,” Dasani cautioned.
Also Read | 10 key things to know before tendering shares in Wipro’s Rs 15,000 crore buyback
(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)
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Honasa shares jump 6% on Rs 5,500 crore revenue target by FY31. What is Goldman Sachs saying?
The company’s revenue outlook implies a CAGR of about 18% between FY26 and FY31. Mamaearth is expected to remain the key growth driver, with revenue crossing Rs 2,000 crore by FY31, while The Derma Co is projected to contribute nearly Rs 1,500 crore during the same period.
Further, the company plans at least two more Rs 500 crore revenue-generating brands across the portfolio, it said in an investor presentation. It owns brands such as Aqualoga, BBlunt, Dr Sheth’s, and Reginald Men.
Honasa plans to expand EBITDA margins to 15% by unlocking a 500-basis-point improvement through a stronger presence in higher-margin channels and categories, alongside benefits from scale and operating efficiencies.
The company’s direct outlet network is targeted to grow from around 1.2 lakh outlets currently to 3 lakh outlets by FY31. A greater mix of general trade, modern trade, and quick commerce is also expected to support margin expansion.
Honasa aims to become the national market leader in at least two skincare categories, while securing a top-three market share position in at least two additional categories.
Following the development, Goldman Sachs raised the target price of Rs 400, which the company has already surpassed. The international brokerage has maintained a Neutral rating on the counter.
Reflecting faster profitability improvement, the brokerage has raised its FY27-FY29 earnings estimates by 1-4%. However, Goldman Sachs believes the stock’s risk-reward remains balanced at current valuations.
Honasa Q4 snapshot
The company reported a whopping 177% year-on-year (YoY) jump in consolidated net profit to Rs 69 crore for the fourth quarter of the financial year 2026, from Rs 25 crore in the year-ago period.
Honasa’s revenue from operations, meanwhile, jumped over 23% YoY to Rs 657 crore during Q4 of FY26, compared to the Rs 533 crore revenue reported in the corresponding quarter of FY25.
Honasa shares have risen 64% in the last six months and about 50% in 2026.
(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)
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