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For the last ten years, I have spent quite some time thinking about the history, production and uses of the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Only a week ago, it felt radical saying that the end of CPI as we know it is a possibility within this century. (Not as radical than saying that the end of capitalism is a possibility, of course, but still halfway there.)

But right now, it does not seem impossible that the US could abolish its Consumer Price Index within a few weeks, as Musk/DOGE prepares to attack the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Shit. It's hard to imagine the consequences – within the current political economy – of halting the production of such a key statistic.