[gruez]

>CPI functions to obscure disproportionate price increases in essentials by lumping them in with cheapening commodities (e.g. electronics) that have a high demand elasticity.

Right, because it's not "essentials price index" or whatever.

>as it would be picking "arbitrary items" such as the essentials: food, shelter, medical care, and transportation that would paint a picture distinctly less fine.

The BLS makes the constituent price indices available as well as their weights, so you can easily vibecode an "essentials" index.