Apartment List put together an explainer on how housing costs factor into inflation and where housing inflation might be heading. But the topic is even a bit more elusive than the explanation.

Inflation—commonly measured by the Consumer Price Index, or CPI—is a complex topic. The government measures the ongoing costs of a "market basket of consumer goods and services," according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The collection can change over time and prices are checked in many different geographic locations. The single number is an average, so not necessarily the real experience of any one household. 

Also, the impact of inflation depends on your personal circumstances, because things in the market basket change at different rates. Typically, housing, school and childcare, and healthcare all rise significantly faster than per capita disposable income, which is the money left over after paying personal taxes. If you are paying for college or a significant illness, chances are that you feel the effects or rising prices more than someone who isn't.