The process of determining the rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services is rising, achieved through utilization of spreadsheet software, specifically Microsoft Excel, allows for structured data management and formulaic analysis. For example, historical price data for a basket of goods can be entered into columns, and formulas can be applied to calculate the percentage change between periods, yielding the inflation rate.
This approach offers several advantages. The ability to organize and analyze economic data within a familiar environment improves accessibility and facilitates understanding. By creating custom spreadsheets, users can adapt the computations to reflect specific needs, such as focusing on particular regions, timeframes, or commodity groups. Furthermore, such analyses can aid in financial planning, investment decisions, and the assessment of economic trends.