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.

🇮🇳 India

India's Retail Inflation at 4.4%, Wholesale at 9.8% in August: Rate Hike Risk Rises

India's retail inflation (CPI) reached 4.4% in July, the highest in the current data series

Sep 15, 2026

🇰🇷 South Korea

South Korea Tops OECD Leading Indicator Rankings for First Time in 6 Years as $350B US Deal Nears Signing

South Korea's OECD leading indicator hit 102.87, ranking first among 17 nations, as gasoline prices fall for a 17th week and a $350B Korea-US investment MOU approaches signing.

Sep 14, 2026

🇸🇬 Singapore

Gold Retreats as US Core CPI Rises 0.3% in August, Strengthening Fed Rate-Hike Expectations

US core CPI rose 0.3% month-on-month in August, reinforcing Federal Reserve rate-hike expectations

Sep 14, 2026

🇮🇳 India

US August CPI Beats Estimates, Bringing Fed Rate Hike Closer as Indian Markets Watch Closely

US consumer prices accelerated in August with core inflation posting its largest monthly rise in four months

Sep 12, 2026

🇺🇸 United States

August CPI Surge Pushes Fed Rate Hike Bets to 87% as US Markets Rebound

August CPI accelerated beyond forecasts, driving Fed rate hike probability to 87% in overnight futures

Sep 12, 2026

🇺🇸 United States

Record Mobile Service Price Surge Fuels Inflation, Complicates Fed Rate Decision

Mobile service prices posted a record monthly rise in 2026, adding measurable pressure to the services CPI component watched by the Federal Reserve

Sep 12, 2026

Inflation

August Inflation Stays Stubbornly High, Lifting Odds of a Federal Reserve Rate Hike Next Week

US inflation remained stubbornly elevated in August, with data signaling to markets that the Federal Reserve may raise interest rates at next week's September 19-20 FOMC meeting despite earlier hopes for a policy pause.

Sep 12, 2026

Usd

Dollar Strengthens as Hawkish CPI Report Lifts Fed Rate Hike Probability Ahead of September FOMC

The dollar index (DXY) rose as a hotter-than-expected US CPI report increased market pricing for a Federal Reserve rate hike, with the hawkish inflation reading strengthening the case for continued policy tightening.

Sep 12, 2026

🇺🇸 United States

August Inflation Ran Hot at 0.3% Monthly Core — But a Silver Lining Is Driving Stocks Higher

August core CPI rose 0.3% monthly, pushing Fed hike odds to 85%, yet US equities gained as a 'silver lining' in economic resilience and soft-landing signals offset the hawkish inflation data.

Sep 12, 2026

🇰🇷 South Korea

Korean Analysts: US August CPI 'Insufficient to Justify Fed Rate Pause' as Monthly Inflation Accelerates

Korean financial media consensus is that the 0.3% core CPI monthly beat makes a September Fed rate pause unjustifiable, with Bank of Korea policy implications debated across major outlets.

Sep 12, 2026

🇰🇷 South Korea

US August CPI Holds at 3.4% Annual; Core Monthly Beats Forecasts, BOK Policy Implications Grow

US August CPI held at 3.4% YoY with core rising 0.3% monthly above forecasts, increasing Fed hike certainty and tightening Bank of Korea's policy room.

Sep 12, 2026

🇸🇬 Singapore

US August CPI Rises 0.4% Monthly to 3.4% Annual Rate, Lifting Singapore Rate-Hike Watch

US CPI rose 0.4% in August after a 0.1% July gain, holding annual inflation at 3.4% and reinforcing September Fed rate hike expectations with Singapore market implications.

Sep 12, 2026

🌐 Global

US Core CPI Beats Forecasts in August, Cementing Fed Rate Hike at September FOMC

US core CPI rose more than expected in August, reinforcing near-certain Fed rate hike expectations for the September 19-20 FOMC meeting.

Sep 12, 2026

🇨🇦 Canada

US Core CPI Beats Forecasts, Strengthening Case for Federal Reserve Rate Hike

US core CPI exceeded forecasts, adding weight to the Federal Reserve's case for an additional interest rate increase

Sep 11, 2026

🇺🇸 United States

Brent Crude Tops $105 on Middle East Escalation, Reigniting Inflation Fears

Brent crude oil prices surged above $105 per barrel as Middle East tensions intensified, pushing crude to multi-month highs

Sep 11, 2026

🇺🇸 United States

US CPI Report Set to Shape Fed Rate Decision as Inflation Trajectory Remains Uncertain

Federal Reserve officials have signaled readiness to raise rates further if inflation doesn't improve, even as questions persist about how effective monetary policy can be against some structural inflation drivers.

Sep 10, 2026

🇯🇵 Japan

BOJ Policymaker Flags Price Risks That Could Trigger Rapid Rate Hike Path

A Bank of Japan policymaker warned that a recent spike in producer prices could push consumer inflation higher, raising the risk that the BOJ may need to hike rates more rapidly than markets currently expect.

Sep 10, 2026

🇺🇸 United States

Fed Rate Hike Decision Hinges on Two Critical Inflation Reports This Week

Consumer and wholesale price reports in the next two days will determine whether the Fed opts to raise rates.

Sep 10, 2026

🇮🇳 India

Sensex Sinks 813 Points to 3-Month Low as Brent Crude Tops $100 for First Time Since July

Sensex lost 813 points for a third consecutive session, closing at its lowest level in three months as Brent crude surged above $100 per barrel.

Sep 10, 2026

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

UK Food Inflation Could Exceed 6% as Iran War Drives Energy and Supply Chain Costs Higher

UK food inflation could top 6% next year as Iran war drives fuel prices higher, warns the Food and Drink Federation.

Sep 9, 2026

🌐 Global

BMO's Davis: Upcoming CPI Data Could Give Fed Cover to Pause Rate Hikes

BMO's Earl Davis says Friday's US CPI report could provide the Fed an 'easy out' to avoid hiking rates

Sep 8, 2026

🇭🇰 Hong Kong

Asian Markets Mixed as GIFT Nifty Points Lower; US-Iran Tensions and CPI in Focus

GIFT Nifty futures signaled a negative opening for Indian markets as Asian trading turned mixed amid US-Iran tensions and anticipation of the US CPI release

Sep 8, 2026

🇸🇬 Singapore

Global Food Prices Hit 4-Year High in August 2026 as Supply Risks Return to Commodity Markets

Global food prices rose to their highest level since 2022 in August 2026, signaling the return of supply-side risk premium to agricultural commodity markets

Sep 5, 2026

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

US Diesel Prices Smash All-Time Record as Iran Conflict Drives Global Oil Market Disruption

US diesel prices surged to an all-time high, surpassing the previous 2022 peak, driven by the Iran conflict that began in late February 2026.

Sep 4, 2026

🇸🇬 Singapore

Philippine CPI Eases to 6.1% After BSP Rate Hikes But Stays ASEAN-Highest as Pivot Expectations Build

Philippine inflation eased to 6.1% after successive BSP rate hikes, but the country retains the fastest CPI in major Southeast Asian economies.

Sep 3, 2026

🇦🇪 UAE / MENA

Turkish Inflation Edges Down to 31.5% for Third Month Running but Remains Too Hot for Rate Cut

Turkey's annual CPI fell to 31.51% in August — third consecutive monthly decline — but persistent inflation above January levels limits rate cut prospects at next week's central bank meeting.

Sep 3, 2026

🇺🇸 United States

Fed Governor Barr Signals Rate Hike Support If Inflation Fails to Ease Toward 2%

Fed Governor Barr signaled willingness to support a rate hike if inflation does not show further easing, citing concern about broader price pressures taking hold.

Sep 1, 2026

Cpi

Germany Inflation Rebounds Above 3% on Rising Energy Prices, Raising ECB Policy Pressure

German consumer prices are back on course toward 3%+ inflation after a brief dip, driven by a lengthening list of price pressures

Sep 1, 2026

🇮🇳 India

Yardeni Research: Fed Must Hike 25bps in September to Restore Credibility as Demand Holds Firm

Yardeni Research's Ed Yardeni calls for mandatory 25bp Fed September hike to restore credibility; dismisses stagflation fears citing strong U.S. consumer spending and business investment.

Aug 31, 2026

🇺🇸 United States

Social Security 2027 COLA Estimate Falls from 4.7% Projection — Why Lower Inflation Is the Silver Lining

The 2027 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment estimate has fallen from an earlier projection of 4.7%, reflecting easing inflation expectations

Aug 30, 2026