Declining Rents Signal Relief is on the Way for Inflation

AUSTIN, Texas, June 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- While U.S. rents generally remain higher than pre-pandemic levels, their growth over the past six years has lagged behind both overall inflation and home prices, according to the Realtor.com® May Rent Report. As of May 2025, the median rent was $1,705, up 19.6% compared to the same time in 2019—below the 25.6% rise in consumer prices. With market-based rents continuing to cool, Americans can expect further relief in shelter inflation in the months ahead. Falling ...