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
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That’s like a point off the [consumer price index]. Filip Timotija, The Hill, 8 Apr. 2025 According to city staff, there was a consumer price index increase of 3.12% from the second half of 2023 to the second half of 2024, as well as a 3.42% increase in the tipping fee from $55.69 per ton to $57.59. Luke Harold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2025 This comes off the heels of Wednesday's softer-than-expected February consumer price index and gets the Federal Reserve closer to its 2% inflation goal. Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2025 Economists polled by Reuters had anticipated the consumer price index would hit 2.7% in the twelve months to March. Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Consumer price index.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consumer%20price%20index. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

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
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