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

called also cost-of-living index

Examples of consumer price index in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The consumer price index showed a 12-month inflation rate of 2.7% after increasing 0.3% on the month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday. Jeff Cox, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2024 Over the past 12 months, the consumer price index climbed 2.7%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday. Rob Wile, NBC News, 11 Dec. 2024 Meanwhile, the consumer price index (CPI) gained only +0.20% versus expectations of +0.40% and October’s +0.30%. Brendan Ahern, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024 That's more than double last year's 2.7% increase and the annual inflation rate of 2.6% recently reported in the October consumer price index. Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY, 1 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for consumer price index 

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of consumer price index was in 1945

Dictionary Entries Near consumer price index

Cite this Entry

“Consumer price index.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consumer%20price%20index. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on consumer price index

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!