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The Consumer Price Index

July 11, 2026
  • The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is one of the most widely followed measures of inflation, tracking changes in the prices consumers pay for a broad basket of goods and services.
  • Economists often focus on core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy prices to provide a clearer picture of underlying inflation trends.
  • While inflation has moderated significantly, tariffs, higher energy costs, and other supply-side pressures could keep price increases elevated and delay the Federal Reserve's return to its 2% inflation target.