The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a representative basket of goods and services. Produced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI tracks inflation, cost-of-living differences, and purchasing-power shifts across the United States. It includes indexes for the nation, regions, and many metropolitan areas, covering categories such as housing, energy, food, and healthcare.
CPI is a cornerstone of market-intelligence and financial planning. On a data platform, it integrates with income and employment datasets to evaluate real wages, affordability, and consumer spending. Governments and businesses use CPI for contract escalation, cost adjustments, and policy design. With decades of consistent statistical data and transparent methods, CPI remains essential for monitoring inflation and comparing price trends across time and place.