The Casey's Pizza Inflation Index (CPI)

The price of gas station food matters to Iowans

Around four years ago, I posted a joke on Twitter about Casey’s gas station pizza getting more expensive. I called it the “Casey’s Pizza Inflation Index (CPI)” and framed it as a quasi-earnest effort to track inflation, with a subtle jab at the money printers and self-serious economic bean counters. This post checked a few boxes for me as I’m a financial advisor, a bit of an inflation truther, and native Iowan. And honestly, I like the pizza. I’m also part of the bitcoin community that has inherited the sound money critique from gold bugs and made it relevant in 2025.

So a combination of good humor, a meaningful midwest brand, inflation angst, and love for gas station pizza have now turned this into an annual thing.

Here is the 2025 post:

Followed by a new FAQ this year:

Is this pure slop? Tapping into midwest zeitgeist? The true measure of inflation? Just a reason for this analyst to eat gas station pizza? I’ll let the reader decide.