To calculate the Consumer Price Index (CPI), you will need to follow these steps:
1. Select a base year: The base year is the year against which all other years will be compared. It is usually set to 100.
2. Determine the basket of goods and services: The CPI measures the average change in prices paid by consumers for a fixed basket of goods and services. This basket typically includes items such as food, housing, clothing, transportation, and medical care.
3. Collect price data: Gather price data for each item in the basket of goods and services for the current year and the base year. This data can be obtained from government agencies, surveys, or other sources.
4. Calculate the cost of the basket: Multiply the price of each item in the basket by the quantity purchased in the current year and in the base year. Add up these values to get the total cost of the basket for each year.
5. Calculate the CPI: Divide the total cost of the basket in the current year by the total cost of the basket in the base year and multiply by 100. This will give you the CPI for the current year.
CPI = (Cost of basket in current year / Cost of basket in base year) x 100
6. Interpret the results: A CPI greater than 100 indicates inflation, while a CPI less than 100 indicates deflation. The percentage change in the CPI from one year to the next can be used to measure the rate of inflation or deflation.