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U.S. consumer prices dropped in May for the third straight month as the coronavirus pandemic pushed the American economy into a recession.

The Labor Department said Wednesday that its consumer price index fell by 0.1 percent last month after tumbling by 0.8 percent in April and 0.4% in March. Excluding food and energy prices, which bounce around from month to month, so-called core inflation fell by 0.1 percent, tumbling for the third consecutive month for the first time ever.

The pandemic and the quarantines meant to contain it pushed the U.S. economy into a severe recession in February, ending a record-breaking expansion that began in June 2009, a panel of economists declared Monday. Weaker demand from customers pushes prices down.

Over the past year, consumer prices are up by 0.1 percent and core prices are up by 1.2 percent.

Gasoline prices dropped by 3.5 percent in May, their fifth straight decrease, and are down by 33.8 percent over the past year. Clothing prices fell by 2.3 percent, third straight drop, and are down by 7.9 percent over the past year.

Food prices invreased by 0.7 percent last month, and the price of housing grew by 0.2 percent.-AP

People shop for food the day before the Thanksgiving holiday at a Walmart Supercenter in Las Vegas.

US consumer prices dip in May for third consecutive month