CPI (Consumer Price Index)

CPI (Consumer Price Index) News

The most-watched measure of consumer inflation, tracking prices of a basket of goods and services households buy.

What is CPI (Consumer Price Index)?

CPI measures the average change over time in prices paid by urban consumers for a representative basket of goods and services. Major components typically include: housing/shelter (largest weight), food, energy, transportation, medical care, recreation. Released monthly in most countries — US Bureau of Labor Statistics, India's Ministry of Statistics, Eurostat, etc. The "core" version excludes food and energy.

Why it matters for investors

CPI is the headline inflation measure that drives central bank decisions, Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) returns, Social Security/pension adjustments, and most contractual inflation escalators. Markets react sharply to CPI surprises — a 0.1% miss vs. expectations can move bond yields significantly.

Frequently asked questions

How is CPI calculated?

Statistical agencies survey thousands of prices across categories monthly. Items are weighted by household spending share (rent has higher weight than haircuts). Geographic averaging produces a single index. Year-over-year change is the headline number.

Why does CPI sometimes feel wrong?

CPI is an average across categories and regions. Your personal inflation rate depends on your spending mix. If you don't own real estate, shelter doesn't affect you the same way. CPI also struggles to capture quality changes and product substitution.

What is PCE inflation?

Personal Consumption Expenditures — the Fed's preferred inflation measure. PCE has a different basket and methodology (substitution effects), typically running ~0.3-0.5% lower than CPI.

🇺🇸 United States

Warsh Core Dilemma: Key Inflation Metric Defies September Rate-Hike Retreat

Fed Chair Warsh and the FOMC face a core dilemma as one inflation metric stays hot despite declining September hike odds.

Aug 15, 2026

🇮🇳 India

Kospi and Nikkei Rally as US PPI Cools to 4.7% Annual, Reducing Fed Hike Odds Below 40%

US producer price index data showed annual inflation cooling to 4.7% from 5.5% in June, reducing the probability of a September Fed rate hike to below 40%

Aug 14, 2026

🇺🇸 United States

Mild Inflation Data Lifts Stocks Near Record Highs as Fed Rate Stability Expectations Solidify

Mild July 2026 CPI data lifted equity markets with the S&P 500 holding near record highs as inflation fears receded

Aug 14, 2026

🌐 Global

Traders Pare Fed Rate-Hike Bets as Oil Price Decline Boosts Disinflation Hopes

Bond traders reduced Federal Reserve rate-hike bets for the year as falling oil prices reinforced positive inflation expectations, shifting rate-path pricing toward hold or cut — a broadly risk-on signal for equities and emerging markets.

Aug 14, 2026

Dow Jones

Dow Rises on Surprise Inflation Data as Cisco and Cerebras Plunge on Disappointing Earnings

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose on Thursday after surprise US inflation data came in below expectations, fuelling rate-cut optimism

Aug 14, 2026

🇨🇦 Canada

Asian Stocks Poised for Gains After Benign US Inflation Data Eases Rate-Hike Fears

Asian equity markets were positioned for gains as benign US CPI data reduced Federal Reserve rate-hike expectations.

Aug 13, 2026

🇺🇸 United States

US Treasury Yields Diverge as CPI Data Reduces Rate-Hike Expectations

Benign US CPI data reduced market expectations for near-term Federal Reserve rate hikes.

Aug 13, 2026

🇰🇷 South Korea

Wall Street Rallies on AI Stock Earnings Beats and US Inflation Slowdown, S&P 500 Approaches Record High

The S&P 500 approached its all-time high as Super Micro Computer surged 19% on an 84% EPS beat and CoreWeave jumped 19.3%, while US July CPI of 3.4% reduced Fed rate hike expectations

Aug 13, 2026

🇸🇬 Singapore

Dollar Steadies After Benign US Inflation Data Cuts Fed Rate Hike Expectations

The US dollar steadied after benign US consumer inflation data prompted traders to pare back Federal Reserve rate hike expectations, with Business Times Singapore providing dual-angle coverage of the currency market reaction

Aug 13, 2026

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

US Inflation Eases in July as Food Costs Cool; Housing Keeps Overall Prices Slightly Elevated

Annual US inflation dipped in July, with food cost growth slowing while housing costs kept prices slightly elevated

Aug 13, 2026

🇮🇳 India

S&P 500 Rises as Soft July US CPI Eases Fed Fears; Nasdaq Surges on AI Chips

S&P 500 and Dow rose as softer July US CPI reduced expectations for a September Federal Reserve rate hike

Aug 13, 2026

🇦🇪 UAE / MENA

Gold Holds Near $4,376 Two-Month High as Soft US CPI Dampens September Fed Hike Odds

Gold held near two-month highs at $4,376.8 per ounce on August 13, pausing after a rally driven by cooler US CPI data that reduced September Fed rate hike probability and softened the dollar.

Aug 13, 2026

🇸🇬 Singapore

Gold Climbs to Two-Month High as US Inflation Data Cuts September Fed Hike Odds to 40%

Gold rose to a two-month high after US inflation data came in softer than expected, cutting the probability of a September Federal Reserve rate hike from 46% to 40% as traders reduced hawkish bets.

Aug 13, 2026

🇸🇬 Singapore

Asian Stocks Poised for Gains as Benign US Inflation Eases September Rate-Hike Concerns

Asian stocks are set to gain as benign US CPI data and a cooler-than-expected jobs report reduce Fed rate-hike probability and ease pressure on EM capital flows.

Aug 12, 2026

🌐 Global

Gold Rally Extends as Tamer US Inflation Shifts Fed Rate-Hike Calculus

Gold prices rally in 2026 as benign US inflation data and soft jobs report reduce Fed rate-hike odds, prompting investors to reposition bullion exposure.

Aug 12, 2026

🇨🇳 China

China July CPI at 0.5% and PPI Decline Signal Deflation Risk, Macro Stimulus Urged

China's July CPI rose only 0.5% year-on-year while PPI fell 0.7% month-on-month, signalling persistent deflation risk in the industrial sector.

Aug 12, 2026

🇨🇳 China

China July CPI Rises 0.5% Year-on-Year as Core Inflation Strengthens; PPI Climbs 3.5%

China's July 2026 CPI rose 0.5% year-on-year, with monthly CPI dipping 0.1% — less than the prior month's decline.

Aug 10, 2026

China

China Consumer and Factory Prices Rise Less Than Expected as Deflationary Pressure Persists

China's Consumer Price Index and Producer Price Index both rose below analyst forecasts in the latest data release, with lower oil prices and subdued domestic demand continuing to moderate inflation and keep deflationary risk on the policy radar.

Aug 10, 2026

🇨🇳 China

China July CPI Up 0.5% YoY as Services Rise 0.7% and Food Prices Fall 1.5%

China National Bureau of Statistics reported July CPI rose 0.5% year-on-year, with urban inflation at 0.5%, food prices down 1.5%, and services up 0.7%, as the Iran-war oil shock continues to fade from consumer prices.

Aug 9, 2026

🇨🇳 China

China July CPI Slows to Weakest Since January as Iran War Oil Impact Fades

China July CPI rose at its slowest pace since January while factory-gate price growth decelerated, confirming the Iran war oil price shock is beginning to ease through the Chinese economy.

Aug 9, 2026

🇨🇳 China

China Inflation Cools as Iran War Oil Shock Begins to Ease, PPI Falls First Time Since War

China factory-gate and consumer inflation both eased in July, with PPI decelerating for the first time since the Iran war's oil shock hit in February, opening space for PBOC monetary easing.

Aug 9, 2026

🌐 Global

China CPI and PPI Decelerate for First Time Since Iran War Oil Shock Began

China's factory-gate and consumer inflation both decelerated for the first time since the Iran war oil shock began in February, signaling cost-push pressures are fading.

Aug 9, 2026

🇨🇦 Canada

US CPI Expected to Show War-Driven Inflation Cooling After First Decline in Six Years

US CPI data is forecast to show only marginal price increases after prices fell for the first time in six years, as war-driven inflationary pressures begin to temper, per Financial Post.

Aug 9, 2026

🌐 Global

Firm CPI Reading Could Keep September Fed Rate Hike in Play, Renaissance Macro Warns

Renaissance Macro's Neil Dutta warned another firm CPI print could keep a September Fed rate hike firmly in play despite market expectations for a hold, per Bloomberg.

Aug 9, 2026

🇰🇷 South Korea

Global Food Price Index Rises 0.6% in July to 131.1 as Grain and Sugar Reverse Trends

The FAO World Food Price Index rose 0.6% month-on-month in July, reaching 131.1 as grain and sugar sectors turned bullish

Aug 9, 2026

🇨🇦 Canada

Mexico Inflation Slows in Line With Forecasts as Banxico Signals Rates on Hold — EM Disinflation Template

Mexico's July inflation decelerated as expected; Banxico signaled rates remain on hold as the central bank navigates between disinflation success and preserving credibility in an uncertain global rate environment.

Aug 8, 2026

🌐 Global

South Korea Deploys 136 Teams in Emergency Agricultural Inspection as Heat Wave and Drought Threaten Crops

South Korea's Ministry of Agriculture launched a 10-day special nationwide inspection with 136 teams and 400+ staff to address heat wave and drought impacts on farming.

Aug 5, 2026

🇮🇳 India

South Korea July Inflation Cools Below Forecast as Oil Prices Ease

South Korea's July CPI eased to a three-month low, undershooting market expectations as lower global oil prices reduced energy inflation.

Aug 4, 2026

🇩🇪 Germany

AUD/USD Holds at 0.7030 as Weak Chinese PMI and Fading RBA Rate-Hike Bets Limit Upside

AUD/USD traded around 0.7030, pulling back from a multi-week high of 0.7045 set earlier in the session

Aug 1, 2026

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

UK Petrol Hits 160p-Per-Litre Iran War High, Squeezing Household Budgets Ahead of Holiday Season

UK petrol average pump price reached 160p per litre — a new Iran War-era high — adding financial pressure on millions of households.

Aug 1, 2026