Topic: Inflation

Lessons From America’s First Great Inflations

– April 26, 2022

“Today, the Federal Reserve and federal government serve as America’s Rhode Island, the money pump that keeps the money supply rising faster than money demand.” ~ Robert E. Wright

Crisis, Economic Education, Inflation, Monetary Policy

Supply Disturbances Do Not Explain High Inflation

– April 25, 2022

“Unfortunately for the administration, their politically-convenient supply-side stories explain far too little. Today’s inflation is primarily the result of excessive nominal spending, which the Fed could have and should have offset.” ~ William J. Luther

Central Banking, Inflation, Monetary Policy

Yes, the High Inflation Rates Will Continue in 2022

– April 24, 2022

“A shift to a more restrictive monetary policy to control inflation is likely to result in a recession. One can only hope that the Fed is able to handle this transition better than it has handled the monetary policy of the recent past.” ~ James D. Gwartney & David Macpherson

Economic Education, Government, Inflation

Understanding the CPI

– April 15, 2022

“Regardless of substitution, businesses have to use some commodities for production. With PPI inflation for all commodities at 24 percent, though that does not necessarily forecast a future CPI increase that high, it strongly suggests CPI inflation will continue to rise.” ~ Robert F. Mulligan

Crisis, Government, Inflation

Inflation and the Meaning of Anything

– April 13, 2022

“With the real actors and mechanisms of inflation hidden from public view by language, those who truly fuel it are free to carry on the same policies in relative obscurity and little-noted infamy.” ~ Laura Williams

Crisis, Economic Education, Government, Inflation

Liberty Gardens

– April 12, 2022

“Maybe America has hit rock bottom and the current travails will induce a return to limited government. Until then, though, I suggest that you remove the rocks from your own garden, and plant yourself some Liberty this spring, summer, and fall.” ~ Robert E. Wright

Economic Education, Free Markets, Inflation

Wild Meat Markets

– April 6, 2022

“Sensible deregulation worked for the airlines and their customers, is working for sex workers, and can work for America’s meat lovers too.” ~ Robert E. Wright

Central Banking, Crisis, Inflation, Monetary Policy

Has the Fed Abandoned Its Average Inflation Target?

– April 1, 2022

“Despite affirmations to the contrary, the Fed appears to have abandoned its average inflation target. Excessive nominal spending has pushed prices well above the level consistent with the Fed’s average inflation target.” ~ William J. Luther

Central Banking, Fiscal Policy, Inflation, Monetary Policy

Government Debt and Inflation: Reality Intrudes

– March 22, 2022

“Sooner or later, absent substantially lowering government spending or raising taxes, interest payments will overwhelm the government’s budget. The situation might even be termed a sovereign debt crisis.” ~ Gerald P. Dwyer

Crisis, Government, History, Inflation

Americans Need a COLA, not a Coke

– March 18, 2022

“With inflation now high and trending higher, with no end in sight, American workers, and their employers, need to bring COLAs back, arguably out of fairness to workers but really out of efficiency.” ~ Robert E. Wright

Central Banking, Government, Inflation, Monetary Policy

What Should Be Done to Fight Inflation? A U.S. Lawmaker Interviews Two Michigan Economists

– March 18, 2022

“The conversation centered around recent comments by US Federal Reserve Bank Chairman Jerome Powell, and how the Federal Reserve intends to bring our 40-year high inflation rate down to levels prior to 2021.” ~ Dr. Timothy G. Nash

Central Banking, Economic Education, Inflation, Monetary Policy

FOMC Projects Higher Inflation

– March 18, 2022

“Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s November statement killed the idea that inflation would be transitory. The most recent projections from the FOMC show how deeply that idea has been buried.” ~ William J. Luther & Morgan Timmann