Consumer Price Index and Inflation Perceptions in Canada: Can measurement approaches or behavioural factors explain the gap?

Decisions by economic agents, such as firms and consumers, depend on their views about inflation. Consumers’ views of inflation, are systematically higher than inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), and more so for certain demographic groups. While measurement factors can explain part of this gap, behavioral factors appear to play a larger role. This article examines these factors to explain the gap between CPI’s inflation and inflation perceptions in Canada.