headline inflation

noun

economics

: a measure of inflation that is based on an unadjusted price index

… but core inflation has indeed been a much more reliable guide than headline inflation, which fluctuates wildly.

—Paul Krugman

compare core inflation

Examples of headline inflation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Should the Iran war end and oil and gas prices decline, headline inflation could begin to cool. —Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026

And while headline inflation will be elevated as higher energy prices continue to hit consumers, investors will be watching core inflation closely, according to JPMorgan. —Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 9 June 2026

Even as headline inflation cooled, these essential costs continued to strain household budgets. —Gene Ludwig, Fortune, 6 May 2026

If confirmed, the CEA chairman will play an important role at a time when energy prices have spiked due to the war in Iran, causing headline inflation to tick up. —Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 21 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1983, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for headline inflation

• acclimatisation
• acclimatization
• acidification
• actualization
• annualization
• autocorrelation
• autoregulation
• beatification
• beneficiation
• biodegradation
• biotransformation
• bureaucratization