General Price Level

Broadly speaking general price level is the average price of goods and services available in the economy. A change in general price level over a period of time is known as inflation. Inflation is in the economy is meaured with the help of price indices. Common price indices used in the economy are

Consumer price index also know as Retail Price Index.

How to measure inflation

Rate of inflation is measured by calculating the percentage price increase in goods and services over a period of time.

Inflation is measured through a Price Index. The economists monitor the price changes of a collection of goods & services over a period of time. Price index consists of

A basket of goods

It contains goods and services from various sectors of the economy. There prices are monitored over a period of time.

Base year

This is the first year with which the prices of subsequent years are compared. The price of each commodity is given the value of 100. The base year chosen is a typical year in the sense that there is neither very low or very high inflation, nor any extraordinary occurrences like wars.

Weights

Some commodities are more important in the economy as compared to other commodities. To find out the true effect of inflation. Weights are added to different products and services according to their importance in the society. A product which has a more serious affect is given a higher weight. For example food products which form a staple diet of the society are assigned more weightage than luxury products (perfumes). As the pattern of consumers spending changes over time so the Price Index will have to change the weights assigned to different commodities.

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History of and differences between the Consumer Price Index and Retail Price Index