consumer price index

American  

noun

1. an index of the changes in the cost of goods and services to a typical consumer, based on the costs of the same goods and services at a base period. CPI

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consumer price index Cultural  

1. An index published by the government each month of prices for a representative sample of goods and services. The consumer price index was formerly known as the cost-of-living index.

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Etymology

Origin of consumer price index

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

Proponents of indexing typically cite the consumer price index, but that’s only one of numerous inflation measures the government calculates.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

The House also replaced its traditional Seattle consumer price index with a slower-growing national CPI.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

Elsewhere, February’s consumer price index report is due out Wednesday, which will be watched closely for how inflation affects the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate policy.

From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026

The key consumer price index is due on Wednesday.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 9, 2026

The Boskin Commission con�cluded in 1996 that the consumer price index overstates the actual rise in the cost of living by a percentage point a year.

From Definition & Reality in the General Theory of Political Economy by Colignatus, Thomas

Related Words

• price index
• retail price index