What is the Current Level of the CPI-U?
The CPI is an index, measuring the change from a base period. The current base period of the CPI-U when the price of the “market basket” of goods and services was $100, is the 1982-84 period (averaged). The current index number of the CPI-U 213.240. That means that the market basket of goods and services that cost $100 in 1982-84 now costs $212.24. The basket cost $212.71 in March, 2009 and increased by 53 cents in the last month. The cost of the basket fell by 0.7 percent or $1.49 between April ,2008, and April, 2009, primarily reflecting the drop in energy prices during that time period. Figure 2 shows the various spending categories of the CPI-U in April, 2009. Each category is given a “weight,” representing the estimated portion of the total market basket spent on that category. Each category includes a variety of individual items. For instance, the category of “transportation” includes the price levels of new and used motor vehicles, motor fuel, motor vehicle parts and equipment,
