CPI

The CPI is published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Publication "Understanding the Consumer Price Index: Answers to Some Questions, May 1994(Revised)", Chapter 19, says "The CPI cannot be used as a measure of total change in living costs because changes in these costs are affected by such factors as changes in consumers' market baskets, social and environmental changes, and changes in income taxes, which the CPI does not include."

You can E-mail them for a copy of the publication at labstat.helpdesk@bls.gov