Honestly, this is something I've wondered about because sometimes the CPI will say inflation is like 3 percent, but my parents complain that groceries doubled in a year. So, while the CPI is supposed to track the average change in prices, it uses a giant 'basket' of different items and weights them based on what people usually buy. But there are lots of problems, like, not everyone spends money the same way. For example, if rent goes up like crazy, but you still live at home or pay the same, it won’t hit you. Or maybe you buy lots of tech gear, but CPI barely counts that.

Also, the basket doesn’t update super fast, so when weird stuff happens, like COVID or gas going wild, it can feel kind of off. I remember after the pandemic, my family's food bill went nuts, but the official CPI number wasn't nearly as high as what we felt.

So, yeah, CPI is useful to get a general idea, but for most people, it never feels totally spot on. Most experts admit it’s kind of a blunt tool, but it’s basically the best thing we’ve got right now. Still, I’d say always look at your own bills before believing the headlines.