InflationBureau of Labor StatisticsMonthly
Consumer Price Index (CPI)
What is Consumer Price Index (CPI)?
Measures the average change in prices paid by consumers for goods and services.
Why it matters
Headline inflation drives Fed policy, rate expectations, breakevens, and real yields.
How to read prints
When it rises
Inflation is accelerating; bonds typically sell off and the Fed leans hawkish.
When it falls
Inflation is cooling; bonds typically rally and rate-cut odds rise.
Frequently asked
What is CPI?⌄
The Consumer Price Index measures the average change in prices paid by urban consumers for a basket of goods and services. It is the headline U.S. inflation measure.
How often is CPI released?⌄
Monthly, usually on the second week of the month at 8:30 AM ET, for the prior month.
What is the difference between CPI and Core CPI?⌄
Core CPI excludes food and energy, which are volatile. The Fed pays closer attention to core measures when setting policy.
How does CPI move markets?⌄
Hotter-than-expected CPI prints push Treasury yields higher, the dollar higher, and stocks lower as markets price in tighter monetary policy.
Track it on Market Ontology
Monitor Consumer Price Index (CPI) in real time on Inflation System, alongside regime classification, transmission mapping, and cross-asset context.
| Source | Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Frequency | Monthly |
| Category | Inflation |
| FRED Series | CPIAUCSL |
| Unit | % |
| Related Module | Inflation System |
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