Does high inflation matter?
Economists and the public have very different views on the question
IT STARTED IN America, but the surge in inflation has spread to the rest of the rich world. Consumer prices across the OECD club of mostly rich countries are rising by 7.7%, year on year, the fastest pace of increase in at least three decades. In the Netherlands, inflation is nearing 10%, even higher than in America, while in Estonia it is over 15%. How forcefully should central banks respond to the inflationary surge? The answer depends on how much damage inflation is causing. And that depends on whom you ask.
This article appeared in the Finance & economics section of the print edition under the headline “A spectre returns”
Finance & economics April 23rd 2022
- After getting inflation so wrong, can the Fed now get it right?
- China’s two-front fight to quash the virus and revive its economy
- What an end to quantitative easing means for Italian debt
- New research spells out the benefits of diverse supply chains
- All over the rich world, new businesses are springing to life
- A surprise sacking at China Merchants Bank frightens investors
- A requiem for negative government-bond yields
- Does high inflation matter?
From the April 23rd 2022 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionMore from Finance & economics
The stockmarket rout may not be over
As investors pause for breath, we assess what could turn a correction into a crash
Why Japanese stocks are on a rollercoaster ride
Volatility in global markets continues
Why Japanese markets have plummeted
The global rout continues, with the Topix experiencing its worst day since 1987
Swing-state economies are doing just fine
They would be doing even better if the Biden-Harris administration had been more cynical
Can Kamala Harris win on the economy?
A visit to a crucial swing state reveals the problems she will face
Why fear is sweeping markets everywhere
American and Japanese indices have taken a battering. So have banks and gold