{
  "id": "cpi-levels",
  "slug": "cpi-levels",
  "title": "The price level versus the inflation rate",
  "tag": "CPI-U / NATIONAL",
  "unit": "CPI index points (1982–84 = 100)",
  "kind": "index-levels",
  "metric": "value",
  "measure": "Not seasonally adjusted CPI-U all items (CUUR0000SA0)",
  "geography": "United States: U.S. city average",
  "observation_type": "Non-contiguous dated checkpoints",
  "coverage": "January 2021–August 2026; six selected observations, NOT a full monthly series",
  "overview": "See how a lower annual inflation rate can coexist with a higher overall price index. Pick any two published checkpoints to recompute the cumulative price-index change.",
  "caution": "Selected checkpoints only, not a continuous time series. Comparing different calendar months can include seasonality. No estimate of who caused the changes.",
  "columns": [
    {
      "key": "period",
      "label": "Observed month"
    },
    {
      "key": "label",
      "label": "Published checkpoint"
    },
    {
      "key": "value",
      "label": "Unadjusted CPI-U index"
    }
  ],
  "rows": [
    {
      "period": "2021-01",
      "label": "Jan 2021",
      "value": 261.582,
      "source_id": "bls-2021-01"
    },
    {
      "period": "2022-06",
      "label": "Jun 2022",
      "value": 296.311,
      "source_id": "bls-2022-06"
    },
    {
      "period": "2025-01",
      "label": "Jan 2025",
      "value": 317.671,
      "source_id": "bls-2025-01"
    },
    {
      "period": "2025-08",
      "label": "Aug 2025",
      "value": 323.976,
      "source_id": "bls-2026-08"
    },
    {
      "period": "2026-07",
      "label": "Jul 2026",
      "value": 333.918,
      "source_id": "bls-2026-08"
    },
    {
      "period": "2026-08",
      "label": "Aug 2026",
      "value": 334.98,
      "source_id": "bls-2026-08"
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "bls-2021-01",
      "agency": "U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics",
      "title": "Consumer Price Index, January 2021",
      "url": "https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/cpi_02102021.htm",
      "published_on": "2021-02-10",
      "checked_on": "2026-10-11",
      "locator": "Table 1: unadjusted CPI-U all items and 12-month change"
    },
    {
      "id": "bls-2022-06",
      "agency": "U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics",
      "title": "Consumer Price Index, June 2022",
      "url": "https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/cpi_07132022.htm",
      "published_on": "2022-07-13",
      "checked_on": "2026-10-11",
      "locator": "Table 1: unadjusted CPI-U all items and 12-month change"
    },
    {
      "id": "bls-2025-01",
      "agency": "U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics",
      "title": "Consumer Price Index, January 2025",
      "url": "https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/cpi_02122025.htm",
      "published_on": "2025-02-12",
      "checked_on": "2026-10-11",
      "locator": "Table 1: unadjusted CPI-U all items and 12-month change"
    },
    {
      "id": "bls-2026-08",
      "agency": "U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics",
      "title": "Consumer Price Index, August 2026",
      "url": "https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/cpi_09112026.htm",
      "published_on": "2026-09-11",
      "checked_on": "2026-10-11",
      "locator": "Table A, Table 1 and Table 4: CPI-U levels, subcategories and selected regions"
    }
  ]
}