WASHINGTON (AP) — Inflation rose last month to its highest level in four months as the cost of gas, food, and groceries rose, reversing several months of cooling price pressures.

U.S. consumer prices picked up in June, likely marking the start of a long-anticipated tariff-induced increase in inflation that has kept the Federal Reserve cautious about resuming its interest rate cuts.

The federal Department of Labor agreed not to take legal action if the Sheriff’s Department paid back the employees, the settlement says. A summary of unpaid wages sent to the Comptroller’s Office shows 649 employees were shorted pay that ranged from $45 to nearly $9,000.

Silwanus Tangkotta was working aboard a Taiwanese fishing boat in the remote Pacific last year, when a heavy wave slammed a rolling metal door onto his hand, crushing his middle and ring fingers.

U.S. consumer prices likely picked up in June, potentially marking the start of a long-anticipated, tariff-induced increase in inflation that has left the Federal Reserve cautious about resuming its interest rate cuts.

The US Labor Department will take over workforce development programs from the Department of Education, putting into action President Donald Trump’s plan to consolidate all federal training grants into a single “Make America Skilled Again” program.

American consumers could see a price hike and some restaurant owners may face shutting down, as a nearly three-decade-old US-Mexico trade agreement may give way to 20.9% tariffs on most Mexican tomato imports on July 14.

Inflation rose last month to its highest level since February as President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs are pushing up the cost of a range of goods, including furniture, clothing, and large appliances.

The slashing of worker protections is aimed at increasing the rate of exploitation and boosting the profits of US corporations.

However, the report showed that hiring fell in May, suggesting that employers, though reluctant to lose staff, are hesitant about adding workers amid uncertainty over the economy.

U.S. applications for unemployment benefits fell last week, remaining in the historically healthy range of the past couple years.