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Former Comptroller Reveals True Living Costs Outpacing CPI

9/23/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Gene Ludwig, former U.S. Comptroller, says the Consumer Price Index understates living costs for working families by including luxury items.
He created the True Living Cost (TLC) index, focused on essentials, which has risen 1.3 times faster than the CPI since 2001.
Ludwig notes grocery-price spikes illustrate the gap between official inflation statistics and public experience, urging revised measures.

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Story summary

Gene Ludwig, former U.S. Comptroller, says the Consumer Price Index understates living costs for working families by including luxury items.
He created the True Living Cost (TLC) index, focused on essentials, which has risen 1.3 times faster than the CPI since 2001.
Ludwig notes grocery-price spikes illustrate the gap between official inflation statistics and public experience, urging revised measures.