In economics, statistics, and finance, an index is a number that measures how a group of related data points—like prices, company performance, productivity, or employment—changes over time to track different aspects of economic health from various sources.
Consumer-focused indices include the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which shows how retail prices for goods and services shift in a fixed area, aiding adjustments to salaries, bond interest rates, and tax thresholds for inflation. The cost-of-living index (COLI) compares living expenses over time or across places. The Economist’s Big Mac Index uses a Big Mac’s cost to explore currency values and purchasing power.