The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that in May 2022, Annual Inflation Rose. May Food Inflation Breaks Record: The combined food index (at home and away) increased 10.1 percent for the 12-months ending May, the first annual increase of 10 percent or more since the period ending March 1981. Food at home rose even more... 11.9% over the last 12 months... while food away from home "only" rose 7.4% over the last year. All six major grocery store food group indexes rose in May. The index for dairy and related products rose 2.9 percent, its largest monthly increase since July 2007. The index for nonalcoholic beverages increased 1.7 percent, and the index for other food at home rose … [Read more...]
Worldwide Inflation by Country 2022
Click for Larger Image It's not just the United States that is suffering from high inflation, countries worldwide are experiencing higher than average inflation. This is partially due to the global pandemic but even more the result of the actions taken by central banks in response to the pandemic. In this article, we will look at global inflation rates by country and inflation around the world. The World Inflation Rate The average inflation rate around the world is 7.4%. The global inflation rate surged from 4.35% in 2021, and 3.18% in 2020. Jump to: Countries with the Highest Inflation Rates Countries with Hyperinflation Russian Inflation Inflation in Europe EU … [Read more...]
Roots of Our Current Inflation
The government and the FED have been making lots of excuses for the current wave of price inflation but it hasn't occurred by accident, because of oil shocks, or Russian invasions. The foundation for the current wave of rising prices was laid brick by brick over a long period of time. And because of this foundation of debt, a severe financial crisis looms not far ahead. The following article by Antony P. Mueller was reprinted by Creative Commons Permission. ~Tim McMahon, editor 05/02/2022 A Deeply Flawed Monetary System A monetary system that allows the creation of money out of thin air is vulnerable to the fits of credit expansion and credit contraction. Periods of credit expansion … [Read more...]
March Inflation Highest Since 1981
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that in March 2022 Inflation Hit 8.5% Inflation Summary: Annual Inflation is the highest since December 1981. CPI Index rose from 283.716 to 287.504. Monthly Inflation for March was 1.34% up from February's 0.91% The next release is on May 11th March 2022 Annual Inflation was 8.54%. Jan. 2021 -- 1.40% ** Jan. 2022 -- 7.48% ** Feb. 2022 -- 7.87% Higher Gasoline prices pushed inflation to new heights in March 2022. The last time inflation was higher was in December 1981 when it was 8.92% but then it was declining from the March 1980 peak of 14.76%. Although we calculate it to two decimal places the Bureau of Labor Statistics … [Read more...]
The History of Inflation in the United States
By John Steele Gordon Author, An Empire of Wealth: The Epic History of American Economic Power Money is just another commodity, no different from petroleum, pork bellies, or pig iron. So money, like all commodities, can rise and fall in price, depending on supply and demand. But because money is, by definition, the one commodity that is universally accepted in exchange for every other commodity, we have a special term for a fall in the price of money: we call it inflation. As the price of money falls, the price of every other commodity must go up. And what causes the price of money to fall? The answer is very simple: an increase in the supply of money relative to other goods and … [Read more...]
How Inflation Helps Some and Hurts Others
Inflation is NOT monolithic i.e. it doesn't affect everyone equally. This has been known since the 1700s when Richard Cantillon, an Irish-French economist, author, and banker, wrote a treatise explaining the Missippi Bubble and the Tulip Mania. We first discussed this issue in an article entitled Who Does Inflation Hurt Most? In the following article, Mark Thornton looks at the effects first postulated by Richard Cantillon and how inflation helps some and hurts others. ~Tim McMahon, editor. Cantillon Effects: Why Inflation Helps Some and Hurts Others By Mark Thornton We now turn our attention to what happens with an increase in the money supply rather than an increase in savings. … [Read more...]
Don’t Blame Putin for High U.S. Inflation… Yet
With Annual Inflation reaching 40-year highs in February, the current administration is frantically searching for a scapegoat... any scapegoat no matter how absurd... to deflect responsibility for the current high inflation rate. First, inflation was "transitory"... then when it was obvious it wasn't... it was supply chain disruptions, and when that narrative fell apart, along comes Putin... Well, inflation was a problem long before Putin invaded Ukraine. So although the "Putin Effect" might result in HIGHER inflation soon, it hasn't been the cause of inflation in the February 2022 inflation numbers. In today's article, Ryan McMaken looks at this issue. ~Tim McMahon, editor Price Inflation … [Read more...]
How Should You Invest to Benefit From Inflation?
We've been a bit spoiled over the last couple of decades because inflation has been relatively tame. The first thing to remember about inflation is that it is primarily a loss of purchasing power. That means that to keep up with inflation, you need to have "more money" in other words, with 7.5% inflation, you have to have $107.50 next year to be able to buy the same thing you could buy for $100 this year. So the first rule of inflation is "don't lose purchasing power". But unless you can earn at least 10% on your money, you are probably losing ground. Why 10%? Because you still have to pay taxes on your gain. If you invest $100 and make 8% i.e. $8 and then have to pay the government 20% … [Read more...]
Hyperinflation in Turkey and Argentina Today?
The Massive Gap Between Official Turkish Inflation and Reality The Turkish economy is a trainwreck. Labor is constantly striking for higher wages because inflation is so high. According to the Labor Studies Group, at least 56 worker strikes broke out in Turkey between January 12th and February 10th, and last year the Turkish currency lost 40% of its value against the U.S. Dollar. Interestingly, contrary to all mainstream Economists, Turkey’s President Erdogan insists that lower interest rates fight inflation. So he has kept interest rates artificially low, making the situation worse. Turkey’s falling exchange rate creates a problem for Turkish businesses that get their revenues in lira and … [Read more...]
January Inflation Nears 40 Year High
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Another Record High Annual Inflation Rate in January. Inflation Summary: Annual Inflation highest since February 1982. CPI Index rose from 278.802 to 281.148. Monthly Inflation for January was 0.84% The next release is on March 10th Annual Inflation for the 12 months ending in January was 7.48%. Jan. 2021- 1.40% -- Jan 2022- 7.48% 2021 Inflation Rates Feb 2021 1.68% -- June 2021 5.39% -- Dec. 7.04% Inflation soared from January 2021 to January 2022 reaching an almost 40 year high. The last time inflation was higher was in February 1982 when it was 7.62% but then it was declining from the March 1980 peak of 14.76%. As you … [Read more...]
