What is CPI?

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure that examines the weighted average of prices of a basket of consumer goods and services, such as transportation, food, and medical care.

Inflation is the decline of a given currency's purchasing power over time; or, alternatively, a general rise in prices. So CPI is the most widely used measure of inflation.

What happened recently?

U.S. consumer prices overall rose 0.4% in September, pushing the y-o-y gain to 5.4%. CPI increased slightly more than expected in September as food and energy price rises offset declines in used cars .

"Food and energy are more variable, but that's where the problem is," said Bob Doll, chief investment officer at Crossmark Global Investments. "Hopefully, we start solving our supply shortage problem.”

The International Monetary Fund warned that the Fed and its global peers should be preparing contingency plans should inflation prove persistent. That would mean raising interest rates sooner than expected to control the price gains.

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