Prices & Inflation
Consumer Price Index (CPI)
The Consumer Price Index tracks the average price of a fixed basket of household goods and services — food, housing, transport, medical care — over time. Its year-over-year percentage change is the most common way inflation is reported: a CPI reading of 112 against a base of 100 implies prices are up 12% since the base period.
Why it matters
CPI is the raw series behind the inflation-rate figure shown on every country page.
Also known as: consumer price index