By the way, I'm not discussing the PowerShares DB US Inflation ETN (NYSEArca:INFL) or the ProShares 30 Year TIPS/TSY Spread ETF (NYSEArca:RINF), as these securities are designed to rise and fall with the market's expectation of inflation rather than to provide real returns. These products are expressly designed to provide one-stop shopping for investors looking to preserve capital while earning so-called real returns-returns over the rate of inflation. The chart below paints CPI as the "steady Eddie" of the bunch, meaning it has provided extremely low volatility and small positive returns.