price index

noun

: an index number expressing the level of a group of commodity prices relative to the level of the prices of the same commodities during an arbitrarily chosen base period and used to indicate changes in the level of prices from one period to another

Examples of price index in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Nationally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ producer price index for logs, bolts, timber, pulpwood and wood chips ticked up in September, but prices have been mostly on the decline since summer 2022. — Kevin Williams, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2026 In the first half of 2026, De Beers’ rough-diamond price index fell 16 percent year-over-year, while the average realized diamond price fell 32 percent to $105 per carat. — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026 The wholesale price index for energy leapt more than 10% in September from August, indicating a significant increase in energy costs faced by manufacturers and other producers. — ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026 The consumer and producer price indexes are also the last major inflation readings before voters across the country head to the polls in the midterm elections. — Steve Kopack, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for price index

Word History

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of price index was in 1886

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Cite this Entry

“Price index.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/price%20index. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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