What is this?
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services. The all urban consumers group represents about 87 percent of the total U.S. population.
(definition and chart data obtained from
Weekly Gas Prices
How do I use this?
Use the CPI to track both changes in expenses your company incurs for the purchase of consumer goods needed to run your business. Also use as an indicator of general cost of living increases for you customers and co-workers.