Sy -- Thanks for that. I don't own any TIPS; until recently, I opted for I-Bonds instead.

But the Kevin Phillips book has me wondering if either TIPS or I-Bonds  keeps up with anything other than core inflation (which excludes energy and food and doesn't even come close to measuring true inflation).

I believe it more correct to say that I-Bonds and TIPS follow the CPI-U, but there are so many other CPIs (20 at least IIRC, and so many other CPI formulae that can be invented) that I'm wary of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

I'd be interested in Bob's take on this because I believe he read the entire book. I only read the Harper's condensed version.