(FAQ archive) The Consumer Price Index (CPI) and its validity... or not.

[Nords]

Just searching for "CPI" turned up 116 hits, so this is barely scratching the surface. I'm sure we've had more discussions on the keywords "inflation" or "hedonics" that also cover this subject.

TIPS and I bonds are frequently discussed in these threads. I'd appreciate it if someone wants to generate a separate FAQ on those topics and PM or e-mail it to me.

As this CPI FAQ gets into older threads, be aware that the poster known as "H0cus" has been banned from the board and his ideas have been generally discredited. That controversy would take up a FAQ of its own but I'm not going there.

http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/bill-gross-calls-cpi-fraudulent-15267.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/tips-vs-i-bonds-15346.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/tips-vs-i-bonds-15740.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/tips-primary-retirement-asset-16083.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/wage-increases-vs-cpi-increases-16574.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/cost-living-increase-question-16808.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/more-about-cpi-hedonic-adjustments-16887.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/treasury-bonds-help-basics-17187.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/change-cpi-calculation-17218.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/unclear-tips-18114.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/invisible-inflation-continues-19599.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/trying-understand-19556.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/lies-damn-lies-statistics-19891.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/real-return-going-forward-20575.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/cpi-your-confidence-level-statistic-20647.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/brewer-et-al-interest-rate-data-21097.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/inflation-cpi-piece-article-21299.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f36/social-security-21311.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/cpi-update-21414.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/our-government-says-what-inflation-rate-21902.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/real-interest-rates-charge-ahead-21958.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/tips-again-22159.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/vanguard-tips-fund-22453.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/official-er-forum-january-inflation-report-25163.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/for...beneift-penalized-early-retirement-25376.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/lord-abbett-retirement-insight-25621.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/bond-allocation-question-25664.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/inflation-hedges-26213.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/social-security-62-66-70-a-26354.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/better-inflation-hedge-tips-wellesley-27189.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/dividend-stocks-place-bonds-27489.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f35/when-take-social-security-27924.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/inflation-cpi-rates-27899.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f26/coward-s-portfolio-28006.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/social-security-benefit-calculation-fire-28576.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/auction-10-year-tips-next-week-28685.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f30/inflation-does-really-matter-28734.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/calculate-swr-if-cpi-inaccurate-30584.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/cpi-rigged-30740.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/everyday-price-index-up-8-a-60520-2.html