In simpler terms, CPI is a tool that tracks price changes in the market and gives us an understanding of the state of various markets. This portfolio of products represents the spending patterns for consumers and facilitates the understanding of the economic status of the society. For example, over the past several years, the CPI index in the United States has increased from 265 in 2021 to more than 300, which represents a monthly growth of 0.5%. This gradual increase indicates a sharp increase in the average price of consumer products in the last several years. In general, CPI is very effective in analyzing the cost of living and purchasing power of consumers.
When the CPI is too high, it is a sign of declining living standards. Also, CPI allows people to analyze past market trends and predict future trends. To measure inflation, we calculate the difference between this year’s CPI and last year’s and divide it by last year’s CPI. This method enables us to obtain the inflation rate, which is very important for our financial and economic decisions.
In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) regularly measures changes in consumer prices. Every month, the BLS publishes two indices, the CPI-U and CPI-W, which are the urban consumer index and the hourly employment index, respectively. These two indicators include more than 90% of the expenditures of the entire population of the United States and are very important for measuring inflation in this country.
Simply put, the CPI shows how much prices change over time, which is important to consumers. For example, if the CPI increases in a year, this means an increase in inflation and a decrease in the purchasing power of consumers. On the other hand, a decrease in the CPI may indicate a decrease in inflation and an increase in purchasing power.
The use of CPI data is critical for decision making in financial markets. Investors, brokers, and policymakers use CPI information to analyze economic trends and make financial decisions. For example, inflation and changes in the CPI can have a direct impact on stock market performance. Also, CPI data helps investors improve their investment strategies and manage financial risks.
Crypto can be a risky investment. Digital currencies are extremely vulnerable in economic crises. For example, the Corona epidemic and its surrounding issues caused extreme fluctuations in the price of crypto. Indeed, much of the volatility of digital currencies is due to their novelty. Digital currencies are decentralized and easily accessible through the internet. Most digital currencies have a fixed supply. Hence, some experts believe that crypto can become an effective hedge against inflation in the future. For this reason, digital currencies can be used to store long-term value. On the other hand, many cryptocurrencies pay dividends to investors who have staked their currencies.
Using the CPI as an indicator, we can make informed predictions about the risk or reward of investing in crypto. We can use CPI and its subsets to determine the volatility of the crypto market. If the CPI rises and falls at a significant rate and an exponential slope, it can be a sign of cryptocurrency market volatility. In general, experts believe that the higher the CPI index, the more pressure will be placed on digital currencies. However, a rise in the CPI does not mean that your cryptocurrency trading will necessarily result in a loss.
Can using CPI benefit day traders who use short-term strategies to make profits? In this way, traders can use the volatility to their advantage instead of waiting for a long time for their crypto to increase in value. This strategy includes very detailed tracking of the CPI trend and technical analysis.
Finally, comparing CPI data with crypto indices provides valuable market insights for buying cryptocurrency. CPI determines whether you should hold your cryptocurrency for the long term or trade it during the day. A high rate of inflation increases the pressure on commercial assets, including digital currencies. However, a rise in CPI could present an opportunity for traders to use it to their advantage. Although this data helps you make an informed decision, ultimately any outcome depends on your decision.