Chain Price Index

Returns the GDP Chain Price Index (implicit price deflator), which measures price changes in the overall economy including all goods and services in GDP.

Data Source

Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) - National Income and Product Accounts.

Usage Notes

  • No parameters required
  • Index value (base year = 100)
  • Data updated quarterly
  • Broader measure of inflation than CPI

Comparison to Other Inflation Measures

Measure Coverage
Chain Price Index Entire GDP (broadest)
CPI Consumer purchases only
PPI Producer/wholesale prices
PCE Personal consumption

Examples

=ChainPriceIndex()
Current GDP chain price index

When to Use

  • Analyzing overall economy inflation
  • GDP deflation calculations
  • Comparing real vs nominal GDP
  • Comprehensive inflation analysis

When NOT to Use

Scenario Use Instead
Need consumer inflation ConsumerPriceindex()
Need core inflation ChainPriceIndexWithoutFoodEnergy()
Need producer prices ProducerPriceIndexFinalDemand()

Common Issues & FAQ

Q: How is this different from CPI? A: The Chain Price Index covers all GDP components, while CPI only covers consumer purchases. The Chain Price Index is a broader measure.

Q: What is the base year? A: Check the current series documentation - base years are periodically updated.

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