Topic: Inflation

Welcome the Disinflation, Beware the Narrative

– January 13, 2023

“Let us all hope that disinflation proceeds expeditiously and, if it does, we remain mindful that the outcome is in spite of, rather than owing to, central bankers and their narrow assortment of lagging and unpredictable policy instruments.” ~ Peter C. Earle

Economic Education, Free Markets, Government, Inflation

Wage and Price Controls Are Not the Answer to Inflation

– January 10, 2023

“If the US imposed economy-wide price controls, as Krugman proposes, it would not stop inflation, just as the Emperor Diocletian’s economy-wide controls did not stop Roman inflation and just as the 1970s economy-wide controls did not stop US inflation.” ~ Raymond C. Niles

Government, Inflation, Monetary Policy

FOMC Ratchets Up Inflation Projection

– January 2, 2023

“FOMC member projections suggest that inflation will come down only gradually over the next two to three years and that the price level will remain permanently elevated.” ~ William J. Luther

Economic Education, Inflation, Monetary Policy

Putting Aggregate Demand and Aggregate Supply to Work

– December 30, 2022

“Economists use aggregate demand and aggregate supply (AS-AD model) to understand how inflation and real income growth are jointly determined.” ~ Bryan Cutsinger & Alexander William Salter

Central Banking, Economic Education, Inflation, Monetary Policy

Does Government Spending Lead to Inflation?

– December 27, 2022

“The key point is that it is the central bank’s willingness to help finance government spending, not the spending itself, that drives inflation. In short: inflation remains a monetary phenomenon.” ~ Bryan Cutsinger

Central Banking, Economic Education, Inflation, Monetary Policy

Supply, Demand, and Inflation: The Big Picture

– December 17, 2022

“Where did all this inflation come from? Supply-side issues are a problem, but in terms of magnitudes, it just doesn’t make sense to call them the chief contributor.” ~ Alexander William Salter

Government, Inflation, Monetary Policy

Fed Slows Pace of Rate Hikes

– December 16, 2022

“The decision FOMC members make in February will depend on the inflation data released between now and then—and how Fed officials interpret that data.” ~ William J. Luther

Financial Markets, Government, Inflation, Monetary Policy

After Three Holiday Seasons, Pandemic Monetary Policy Still Driving up Prices

– December 15, 2022

“The HDAY Index and TDAY Index lead to the same irrefutable conclusion: the ongoing cost of policies implemented to mitigate the spread of COVID are large and, almost three years later, proving disconcertingly persistent.” ~ Peter C. Earle

Financial Markets, Government, Inflation, Monetary Policy

Ocean Shipping’s Effect on Inflation was Negligible

– December 14, 2022

“High shipping prices have had a provably inconsequential effect on the general price level over the past two years. Expansionary monetary policies remain the prime culprit for the high prices and other economic distortions that persist in the US economy.” ~ Peter C. Earle

Crisis, Government, Inflation

Inflation is Deflating the American Dream

– December 2, 2022

“Big-government policies must end before they send us further down the road to serfdom. Our newly elected officials have a responsibility to prioritize fighting inflation, and restoring the American Dream.” ~ Vance Ginn

Art and Culture, Financial Markets, Government, Inflation

An Inflationary Thanksgiving, Revisited

– November 24, 2022

“Americans face another costly holiday season owing to the heavy-handed and arguably unnecessary monetary and fiscal programs early in the COVID pandemic.” ~ Peter C. Earle

Financial Markets, Inflation, Monetary Policy

Inflation Remains Stubbornly High

– November 11, 2022

“The neutral real interest rate is thought to be around 0.25 percent, suggesting the Fed may need to raise its nominal interest rate target another 175 to 200 basis points just to get to neutral.” ~ William J. Luther