Definition

Consumer price indices (CPI) measure the change in the prices of a basket of goods and services that are typically purchased by specific groups of households. The CPI shown in these tables cover virtually all households except for "institutional" households - people in prisons and military barracks, for example - and, in some countries, households in the highest income group.

The CPI: all items excluding food and energy provides a measure of underlying inflation, which is less affected by short-term effects. The index for food covers food and non-alcoholic beverages but excludes purchases in restaurants. The index for energy covers all forms of energy, including fuels for motor vehicles, heating and other household uses.

For more statistics on economic, environmental and social issues visit online the OECD Factbook 2010.