[markus_zhang]

It's meaningless because every individual follows his or her own life. For example, getting a new house might increase your rent while the "average" rent drops.

What I'm trying to say is, unless for investment or research, these data doesn't have much to do with we as individuals. You can see people arguing that "You all feel X goes up but I don't feel that", and I'm just saying the same thing but from a different perspective.

[pwinnski]

Mostly people arguing that the numbers are "wrong" are misunderstanding what low inflation means. Low inflation means prices won't continue to rise. It does not mean that prices will come down. The prices you remember from two years ago, they're gone. They're not even considered when calculating inflation numbers now.

[markus_zhang]

True, but price fluctuations are still "individual" things, when we consider the cost. The CPI is at best a very vague/inaccurate number for personal financial planning. Looking at one's bills are far more useful.

[starkd]

Nobody was claiming CPI was for looking at personal financial planning. It is about the larger economy that in turn effects individuals.