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
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Declining gas prices will likely pull down headline inflation next month, yet measures of underlying inflation remain stubbornly elevated and will be a concern for the Fed. Christopher Rugaber, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for headline inflation

Word History

First Known Use

1983, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of headline inflation was in 1983

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Cite this Entry

“Headline inflation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/headline%20inflation. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.

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