That's not true: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm. Though sometimes people look at the non-food/energy components separately because they're less volatile (supposed to be a better predictor of future inflation).

This is not true. There is no single "CPI": the BLS actually calculates multiple indices. "Core CPI" excludes food and energy, but other indices include them. Some reporting organizations might use "Core CPI" when reporting inflation and not mention this, but that is their fault, not the fault of the index.

Do you know if housing is included? Seems like if you tracked inflation as more of “indexed cost of living” it would be skyrocketing the last 20 years.

From BLS, CPI basket is " eight major groups (food and beverages, housing, apparel, transportation, medical care, recreation, education and communication, and other goods and services)." https://www.bls.gov/cpi/questions-and-answers.htm#Question_1

>The CPI very conspicuously omits food and energy costs.

a 15s google search says no: https://www.cnbc.com/id/43769766

>The CPI measures costs in these areas, according to the BLS:

> Food and Beverages (breakfast cereal, milk, coffee, chicken, wine, full service meals, snacks)

Food and energy are highly volatile which tends to make the statistics less valuable.