There’s a lot of discussion regarding the negative impact of inflation on consumer sentiment. That’s definitely there – but unemployment also has a negative impact. And there is a (at least short run) tradeoff between the two. Relevantly, what would unemployment be in the absence of the American Recovery Plan, the CARES Act, and expansionary monetary policies of the Fed?
Category Archives: inflation
Guest Contribution: “Inflation is Back, But the 1970s Aren’t”
Today, we present a guest post written by Jeffrey Frankel, Harpel Professor at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, and formerly a member of the White House Council of Economic Advisers. A shorter version appeared at Project Syndicate.
October Inflation Recap
With PCE inflation figures in, we have the key price indices for October. Core PCE inflation was at market expectations (Bloomberg). Nowcasts for November inflation is down markedly.
An Effective Anti-Inflationary Measure
As noted by Jeff Frankel:
In terms of what the president can actually control to reduce inflation, one neglected tool is trade policy. Former President Donald Trump put these tariffs on aluminum and steel, and everything we import from China — all kinds of goods. The tariffs raise prices to consumers. It seems to me a no-brainer to undo those barriers. Biden should be able to get China and other countries to reciprocally lower some barriers against us. But with or without that, removing tariffs could bring down consumer prices and prices to businesses for steel and aluminum and all kinds of inputs immediately. That’s the one thing that the government could most rapidly control.
Hyperinflation, Illustrated
Phillip Cagan (1956,“The Monetary Dynamics of Hyperinflation”. Studies in the Quantity Theory of Money,” edited by Milton Friedman (1956), pp.25-1) defined hyperinflation as inflation in excess of 50% per month (or about 13,000% annualized).
Latest One Year Horizon Inflation Expectations
Michigan (preliminary) remains high and NY Fed rises 40 bps; both are consumer based. Cleveland Fed forecast is lower than in September.
Are Low Wage Wages Keeping Up with Inflation
If accommodation and food service wages evolve in October in the same way the have covaried with overall leisure and hospitality service wages, then the answer is yes, for a variety of price indexes.
October Inflation – Different Measures
Chained, and particularly Trimmed, and Sticky Price CPI are less than headline.
October CPI Inflation
Headline CPI exceeded expectations substantially, with m/m 0.9% vs. 0.6% expected. Core was 0.6% vs. 0.4% expected (Bloomberg consensus). The persistence in the gap will depend in large part on oil price’s evolution. Year-on-year core matches levels last seen in 1991; but still far below the 1970’s.
Macro Implications of BBB and IIJA Passage
We are still in the process of determining what’s in the Build Back Better (BBB) bill, but it approximates what is currently discussed, it in conjunction with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) will not likely lead to much pressure in credit markets and upward pressure in prices, given it is largely paid for. Here (while we wait for the CBO) are Moody’s Analytics projections (as of 11/4).