That CPI is manipulated to remove things that are increasing in price faster than other things. The classic was the removing of steak form the CPI because people were substituting hamburger. I suppose if people can still eat even if it is only rice and beans then the price of other food doubling doesn’t count. The CPI is a distraction, not a measurement of anything real. At an extreme clothing price increases might be removed if people substitute rag -picking.
Indeed. The CPI is government ‘spin’ control, IMO.