The CPI isn't a made up number. It's an average of prices of goods. The government doesn't manipulate prices of goods, at least not directly. Sure, the economy

The CPI isn't a made up number. It's an average of prices of goods. The government doesn't manipulate prices of goods, at least not directly. Sure, the economy might be gamed by the government and large corporations in general, but the Consumer Price Index isn't (and can't really be) directly manipulated, without changing its definition (what is included in the index).