Some analysts have indicated that after experiencing several months of low inflation, the price increase that American consumers faced in June may have accelerated slightly, as businesses began to pass on the rising costs of imported goods related to tariffs to consumers. A survey of economists by institutions shows that prices for goods and services, excluding the volatile costs of food and energy, rose by 0.3% in June, marking the largest increase in five months. In May, the core CPI only increased slightly by 0.1%. Although next Tuesday's report may only show that the costs of U.S. import tariffs have been slightly passed on to consumers, many economists expect that inflation will gradually rise as the year progresses. Meanwhile, many merchants are hesitant to raise prices, as American consumers are becoming more cautious about spending after a cooling job market. This is a delicate balance.