What impact does inflation have on consumers and the economy?
Inflation is the concept that the cost of goods and services increases over time. What $10 can purchase today is more than $10 will be able to purchase ten or twenty years from now. As the price of goods and services increases over time, the purchasing power of that $10 diminishes. Many interpret inflation as having a negative impact on their lives since they must spend more to purchase the same items. However, inflation can actually be a healthy component in an economy’s growth.
Inflation is the increase in price of a broad basket of goods and services. It is not the increase in price of a single good or service. For example, if the price of bananas increases, that is not considered inflation. The rest of the economy would continue mostly unaffected. Inflation refers to the increase in prices across a broad range of goods and services which impacts many areas of the economy. In the U.S., the standard used to measure inflation is the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The CPI measures the weighted average of a basket of consumer goods and services. This basket of goods is intended to mimic the common products and services purchased by U.S. consumers and includes items such as food, energy, clothing, housing, medical care, education, communication, and recreation. The weighted average of these goods and services produces a percentage which is reported as the rate of inflation.
While there is often disagreement about healthy and un-healthy rates of inflation, most economists agree that inflation in the 5%-6% range and below is healthy for an economy, and inflation above the 9%-10% range is harmful to the economy.
What impact does inflation have on consumers and the economy?
Many consumers feel the immediate impact of inflation and interpret it as a negative. Spending more on an item you are used to buying never feels great. However, modest inflation does serve an important role in the overall economy. Provided inflation stays within healthy ranges, it is something to take advantage of rather than fear.
Jeff Witz, CFP® welcomes readers’ questions. He can be reached at 800-883-8555 or at witz@mediqus.com.
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