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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But for families who do pay for childcare, those costs can take up a far larger share of their budget—meaning price increases will hit them much harder than the headline inflation data suggests. Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2026 In all three scenarios, headline inflation is expected to rise. Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 15 Apr. 2026 Predictably, headline inflation has leaped higher. Jeff Cox, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2026 Many Fed officials will look past the increase in headline inflation, however, and focus on core prices, which are likely to rise more slowly. Arkansas Online, 11 Apr. 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 22 Apr. 2026.

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