Consumer Price Index - Food

Returns the Consumer Price Index for food, measuring price changes in food at home (groceries) and food away from home (restaurants).

Data Source

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) - Consumer Price Index.

Usage Notes

  • No parameters required
  • Index value (1982-84 base = 100)
  • Data updated monthly
  • Can be volatile due to weather and supply chain issues

Food CPI Components

Component Examples
Food at home Groceries, meat, produce, dairy
Food away from home Restaurants, fast food, cafeterias

Volatility Factors

Food prices can be affected by:

  • Weather and drought conditions
  • Supply chain disruptions
  • Commodity price swings
  • Seasonal factors

Examples

=ConsumerPriceindexFood()
Current CPI food index

When to Use

  • Tracking food inflation
  • Analyzing grocery cost trends
  • Consumer spending analysis
  • Agricultural sector research

When NOT to Use

Scenario Use Instead
Need headline CPI ConsumerPriceindex()
Need core CPI ConsumerPriceindexWithoutFoodEnergy()
Need energy prices ConsumerPriceindexEnergy()

Common Issues & FAQ

Q: Does this include restaurants? A: Yes, CPI Food includes both "food at home" (groceries) and "food away from home" (restaurants, fast food).

Q: Why is food CPI excluded from core inflation? A: Food prices can be volatile due to weather, supply chain issues, and seasonal factors, which can obscure underlying inflation trends.

Get Access to 1 Billion Usable Market data points IN YOUR EXCEL SHEETS WITH EASY TO USE EXCEL FUNCTIONS

Get started today
MarketXLS Excel Add-in Tutorial - How to Use Consumer Price Index - food and Other Financial Formulas
▶
How does MarketXLS work?

Related Functions