> In some calculations food and fuel are excluded because of volatility (controversial, for obviously reasons). From the BLS FAQ[1]: Has the BLS removed food

> In some calculations food and fuel are excluded because of volatility (controversial, for obviously reasons). From the BLS FAQ[1]: Has the BLS removed food or energy prices in its official measure of inflation? No. The BLS publishes thousands of CPI indexes each month, including the headline All Items CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and the CPI-U for All Items Less Food and Energy. The latter series, widely referred to as the "core" CPI, is closely watched by many economic analysts and policymakers under the belief that food and energy prices are volatile and are subject to price shocks that cannot be damped through monetary policy. However, all consumer goods and services, including food and energy, are represented in the headline CPI. Most importantly, none of the prominent legislated uses of the CPI excludes food and energy. Social security and federal retirement benefits are updated each year for inflation by the All Items CPI for Urban Wage Earners The FAQ clarifies a bunch of other CPI misconceptions overheard regularly in internet forums. [1] https://www.bls.gov/cpi/factsheets/common-misconceptions-about-cpi.htm#Question_1 https://www.bls.gov/cpi/factsheets/common-misconceptions-abo...