The Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) is a measure of inflation in the European Union (EU). The HICP is calculated by the Eurostat agency, which is the statistical office of the EU. The HICP measures price changes for goods and services purchased by households.The goal of the HICP is to provide a harmonized measure of inflation across all EU member states. This way, policymakers can compare inflation rates between different countries and make informed decisions about monetary policy.The HICP has been criticized for being too complex and not providing enough information about specific categories of goods and services. However, it remains one of the most important measures of inflation in Europe.