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The Consumer Price Index and Inflation - Simplify the Table

Author(s): 
Elizabeth B. Appelbaum
  1. The downloaded table is shown in part at the right, copied from Figure 2 in Part 1 of the module. If your data are not in columns A and B starting with the headers "Year" and "Annual", as shown here, copy your data columns (from the headers through the last year shown) and paste them into a blank worksheet in this position.

  2. In Column B, choose Insert to make a new column to the left of Column B.

  3. In the new cell B1 write Years Since 1913.If this label overflows the cell, highlight the row. Choose Format, Cell, Alignment, and Wrap Text.

  4. In cell B2 write 0, and in cell B3 write 1. Highlight these two cells. Move the cursor to the lower right corner of the highlighted rectangle, so the cursor becomes a cross. Drag down the column to get the sequence in Column B: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on.

  5. In Column C, replace the word Annual with Annual CPI.

The resulting table should resemble the one shown (in part) in Figure 3.

Figure 3. Part of Consumer Price Index Table with new column B inserted

Elizabeth B. Appelbaum, "The Consumer Price Index and Inflation - Simplify the Table," Convergence (December 2004)