Economy · Glossary
Inflation, consumer prices (annual %)
FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG
Definition
Inflation as measured by the consumer price index reflects the annual percentage change in the cost to the average consumer of acquiring a basket of goods and services that may be fixed or changed at specified intervals, such as yearly. This indicator denotes the percentage change over each previous year of the constant price (base year 2015) series in United States dollars.
Methodology for Economy indicators
Economic indicators measure the size, structure, and dynamics of a country's economy. The World Bank collects data from national statistical offices, central banks, and the IMF, then normalizes it for cross-country comparison. Watch out for nominal versus real (inflation-adjusted) values: nominal figures in current US dollars are sensitive to exchange rate swings, while constant dollar series isolate real growth. Most macro indicators have a 1–2 year reporting lag.
How to interpret
- Always check the unit and reporting year before comparing values across countries.
- NULL or "Not available" means the World Bank did not publish a value — we never estimate.
- Year-over-year changes can be driven by methodology updates, not just real economic shifts.
- This indicator is an annual growth rate (% change). Sustained values of 2–4% are typical for mature economies; emerging markets vary more widely.