In addition to sounding similar interest and inflation are amazingly inter-related. And in effect interest rates incorporate a "negative feedback loop" into inflation. When people think of the word inflation they generally think of how inflation affects them. They see rising prices of common commodities like gasoline or food and worry about the rising cost of living. But that is simply the effect of inflation and it is technically referred to as "price inflation" but the cause of price inflation itself is actually much more complicated. In the short run, prices can rise due to a shortage in supply, such as a gasoline shortage caused by a refinery having to shut down due to a … [Read more...]