Explain why core inflation is lower than the CPI

Answer 1

Core inflation is lower than the Consumer Price Index (CPI) because core inflation excludes certain volatile components of the CPI that can lead to exaggerated price changes in the short term.

The CPI is a widely used measure of inflation that reflects the average price change over time for a basket of goods and services commonly purchased by households. It calculates the percentage change in prices for a specific set of consumer goods and services, such as food, housing, transportation, and healthcare.

On the other hand, core inflation is a measure that excludes certain volatile components of the CPI, such as food and energy prices, which can fluctuate significantly in the short term due to factors like weather conditions, geopolitical events, or changes in supply and demand.

The reason for excluding such volatile components is to focus on the underlying trend in inflation, representing the long-term and sustained changes in price levels. By excluding the volatile items, core inflation aims to present a more stable and reliable measure of inflation.

Because food and energy prices are more prone to sudden fluctuations, their inclusion in the CPI can lead to larger and more erratic swings in the overall inflation rate. This can make it difficult to identify the underlying inflation trends and can give a distorted view of the general price level.

By removing the volatile components, core inflation provides a clearer picture of the underlying inflationary pressures in the economy, giving policymakers better insights for monetary policy decisions. It helps central banks and policymakers gauge the long-term inflationary trends and make appropriate adjustments to interest rates and monetary policy to maintain price stability and manage economic growth.

In summary, core inflation is lower than the CPI because it excludes the volatile components, such as food and energy prices, that can lead to exaggerated short-term price changes and distort the overall measure of inflation.