Inflation is a persistent rise in the average price level of goods or services in an economy over time. As prices of goods and services increase, the amount of goods and services consumers can purchase decreases, and the purchasing power of their money decreases. This is known as a decrease in real income. Inflation can have serious economic consequences and can hurt personal finances if it’s not managed properly.
Inflation is typically measured using a basket of goods, which is a collection of commonly purchased items such as food and clothing. The price of the items in the basket is tracked and compared against a baseline level over time. If the prices increase over the baseline level, this is considered to be inflation.
In the United States, inflation has been relatively low over the past decade. In September 2019, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) indicated that the annual inflation rate was just 1.7%. Although this low level of inflation is good for consumers in terms of keeping the cost of living low, it can be detrimental to an economy when it fails to meet the central bank’s inflation target.
In many cases, higher inflation rates are desirable for an economy because it implies that the overall economy is growing. Low inflation, on the other hand, indicates that the economy might be underperforming. In some cases, it can even result in deflation, which is a situation where prices of goods and services fall over time.
One of the main causes of inflation is monetary expansion. Monetary expansion occurs when the central bank increases the amount of money circulating in the economy by creating more money. This increase in the money supply then pushes up prices as more people compete to buy the same products, which increases the price level. Higher levels of money supply growth can lead to higher inflation rates, so the central bank needs to monitor money supply growth carefully.
The other main cause of inflation is demand-pull inflation. This occurs when there is an increase in demand while the supply of goods remains relatively constant. This creates competition for goods, which leads to higher prices. Demand-pull inflation can be caused by a number of factors such as government spending, high levels of consumer spending, or a decrease in taxes.
Inflation is a complicated issue, and it can have a major effect on both the economy and individual consumers. It is important to take steps to manage and reduce inflation in order to maintain a healthy economy. This can be done through careful government policies and central bank actions that aim to maintain a reasonable rate of inflation. Additionally, individuals can help manage the effects of inflation and protect their finances by budgeting, setting long-term financial goals, and creating an investment plan. Taking these steps can help ensure that your finances are protected against the effects of inflation.