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

See Examples For:

consumer price index

The specific amount of the minimum wage increase is tied to inflation — as measured by the federal consumer price index — and capped at 3.5%, according to state law.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2026

The consumer price index sank 0.4% last month to mark the first drop since May 2020, when the coronvirus pandemic was still raging.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026

Stock futures were mostly lower as traders mull bank earnings and await U.S. consumer price index data.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

Economists expect a 0.1% monthly decline in the headline consumer price index, but the majority of attention will be on the extent to which elevated oil prices are affecting underlying inflation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

Inflation shall be measured by means of the consumer price index on a comparable basis, taking into account differences in national definitions.

From The Treaty of the European Union, Maastricht Treaty, 7th February, 1992 by European Union

Related Words

• price index
• retail price index