Economics
Consumer Price Index (CPI)
Quick fact
The CPI basket contains over 200 categories of goods and services, from bacon to barber visits, and is updated only every two years; yet, it influences the cost of over 70 million Social Security payments annually.
Why this is interesting
Have you ever noticed your grocery bill creeping up while your salary stays the same? That nagging feeling is closely tracked by a powerful number: the Consumer Price Index.