What does the Consumer Price Index (CPI) measure?

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) specifically measures the average change in prices paid by consumers for a basket of goods and services over time. It provides a detailed insight into how the cost of living changes, reflecting the purchasing power of consumers. By tracking price changes, the CPI helps in understanding inflation, as it indicates the rate at which prices are rising or falling.

This measure is crucial for policymakers, businesses, and consumers because it can influence economic decisions, from monetary policy to wage negotiations. In contrast, the other options refer to different economic measures or concepts that do not pertain directly to the consumer's experience with price changes. For example, the total value of goods and services produced relates to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the rate of inflation in exports does not directly measure consumer prices, and wage differences across sectors involve labor economics rather than consumer pricing dynamics.