THE PUBLICATION

Cost of Living

Prices and paychecks, from the supermarket to the rent.

38 stories

How the Inflation Rate Is Calculated

Inflation is the percentage change in a price index over a stated period. The CPI tracks a weighted consumer basket, so monthly and annual rates answer different questions, and neither necessarily matches a household’s own experience.

Nov 10, 2025

Cost of LivingExplainer

What Inflation Measures—and What It Leaves Out

Inflation indexes track average changes in prices for consumer goods and services, including groceries and rent. They leave out investments and cannot represent any one household’s spending pattern.

Nov 6, 2025