You have probably heard about inflation being a problem for our economy. But what is inflation?
Inflation refers to the general increase in the prices of goods and services in an economy over time. In other words, it is the decrease in the purchasing power of a currency over time. This means that a fixed amount of money can buy fewer goods and services as time goes on.
There are several factors that can contribute to inflation, including an increase in demand for goods and services, a decrease in the supply of goods and services, an increase in the cost of production, or an increase in the amount of money in circulation.
Inflation can have both positive and negative effects on an economy. On the one hand, moderate inflation can stimulate economic growth by encouraging investment and spending. On the other hand, high inflation can lead to a decrease in consumer purchasing power, which can slow economic growth and lead to higher unemployment.
Central banks typically try to keep inflation under control by adjusting interest rates, manipulating the money supply, and implementing other monetary policies. By doing so, they can promote economic stability and help to prevent runaway inflation.
Inflation glossary
- Inflation
- The general increase in the prices of goods and services in an economy over time.
- Consumer Price Index (CPI)
- A measure of inflation that tracks the change in prices of a basket of goods and services commonly consumed by households.
- Deflation
- The opposite of inflation, it refers to a decrease in the general price level of goods and services in an economy.
- Hyperinflation
- A situation where the rate of inflation is extremely high, usually above 50% per month.
- Cost-push inflation
- Inflation that is caused by an increase in the cost of production, leading to an increase in the price of goods and services.
- Demand-pull inflation
- Inflation that is caused by an increase in demand for goods and services, leading to an increase in the price level.
- Monetary policy
- The actions taken by a central bank to regulate the money supply and interest rates in an economy to achieve its policy objectives, including managing inflation.
- Quantitative easing
- A monetary policy tool used by central banks to stimulate economic growth by increasing the money supply and lowering interest rates.
- Phillips curve
- A graphical representation of the inverse relationship between unemployment and inflation in an economy.
- Stagflation
- A situation where there is both high inflation and high unemployment in an economy.
For more glossaries, explore the glossaries created by students and teachers here. You can create your own glossary, but you will have to login first.
Dialogue about inflation
Practice having a conversation about inflation. Take turns rolepaying either Person A or Person B.
Person A: Have you noticed how the prices of goods and services seem to be increasing every month?
Person B: Yeah, it’s crazy. I went to the grocery store last week and couldn’t believe how much more I had to pay for my usual items.
Person A: That’s inflation for you. It’s been on the rise lately.
Person B: What exactly is inflation?
Person A: Inflation refers to the general increase in the prices of goods and services in an economy over time. This means that the purchasing power of your money decreases, and you can buy less with the same amount of money.
Person B: Ah, I see. So why does inflation happen?
Person A: There are several factors that can contribute to inflation, such as an increase in demand for goods and services, a decrease in the supply of goods and services, an increase in the cost of production, or an increase in the amount of money in circulation.
Person B: That makes sense. So what can be done to control inflation?
Person A: Central banks typically try to control inflation by adjusting interest rates, manipulating the money supply, and implementing other monetary policies. By doing so, they can promote economic stability and help to prevent runaway inflation.
Person B: Got it. It’s interesting to learn about these things. Thanks for explaining it to me!
Person A: No problem, always happy to help.
How does raising interest rates control inflation?
When a central bank raises interest rates, it increases the cost of borrowing money for consumers and businesses. This can lead to a decrease in spending and investment, which can then decrease the demand for goods and services.
As the demand for goods and services decreases, prices can also decrease or at least slow down their increase. This, in turn, can lead to a decrease in inflation. By making borrowing more expensive, central banks can reduce the amount of money in circulation, which can help to prevent runaway inflation.
Additionally, higher interest rates can also attract foreign investors to a country, which can increase the demand for its currency. This can strengthen the currency and make imported goods cheaper, thus reducing the inflationary pressures caused by the increase in the prices of imported goods.
Overall, raising interest rates is a powerful tool that central banks can use to control inflation and promote economic stability. However, it can also lead to a decrease in economic growth and higher unemployment, so central banks must carefully balance the risks and benefits of such a decision.
What do rising interest rates mean?
What are interest rates?
What is the Bank of Canada interest rate?
Essay checker for money and inflation writing tasks
Practice writing about money and inflation with the Virtual Writing Tutor’s IELTS essay checker. Navigate to the IELTS topic page and select “Money” to see the essays that the VWT can check.
