US consumer inflation surged to a fresh three-year high in May, according to official data released on Wednesday, as increased energy prices rippled through the world’s largest economy. The consumer price index (CPI) rose 4.2 per cent year on year, up from April’s 3.8 per cent figure, the US Bureau of Labour Statistics said. It was the highest reading since April 2023, according to official data, but in line with analyst expectations.