One of the tools, among probably many others, is comparing the yields between conventional Treasury securities and TIPS (inflation-protected securities sold by the U.S. Treasury). This can provide a useful measure of the market's expectation of future CPI inflation. Measuring inflation expectations is important because people's expectations about inflation influence their behavior in the marketplace and, in turn, have consequences for future inflation.

The symbol for Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index Fund in NASDAQ is: VTIP.

As of July 2014, the market cap for Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index Fund (VTIP) is $1,238,264,000.00.

You open an IRA account at a brokerage firm.

Nearly all brokers buy and sell Treasury securities of all types, but check with the brokerage firm before opening the account.

Stocks Bonds Treasury Securities Options