consumer price index

noun

: an index measuring the change in the cost of typical wage-earner purchases of goods and services expressed as a percentage of the cost of these same goods and services in some base period

—abbreviation CPI

called also cost-of-living index

Examples of consumer price index in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

One of the primary factors is the consumer price index for calendar year 2025, Eagan said in an email. — Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026

Those high energy prices have begun showing up in recent inflation reports, including the August consumer price index figures. — Fred Imbert,sean Conlon,chloe Taylor, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2026

Even more important is Friday’s consumer price index report, the government’s highest-profile inflation release. — Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

consumer price index

noun

consumer price in·​dex

: an index measuring the change in the cost of typical wage-earner purchases of goods and services in some base period

called also cost-of-living index