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

Nearly a third of the consumer price index is tied to housing costs, yet the housing market remains frozen due to supply issues.

From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026

Investors are concerned about an expected 4.2% year-over-year rise in the consumer price index, fueling fears of interest-rate hikes.

From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026

The consumer price index rose 0.5% on a seasonally adjusted basis — the largest monthly increase in three years — pushing the annual inflation rate to 4.2%.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

The consumer price index is expected to hit 4.2 percent, a more than three-year high.

From Barron's • Jun. 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