Why Do Inflation Rates Go Up When People Expect Them to?

Imagine you're a baker, and you know the price of flour is going up next month. You might raise the price of your bread now, even if it doesn’t need to be higher yet. This is like how people act when they expect inflation. Everyone starts acting as if prices will go up, and that makes them actually go up.

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Examples

  1. A baker raises bread prices before flour gets more expensive.
  2. Workers ask for bigger paychecks because they think rent will go up next year.
  3. A store buys a lot of toys early when it hears Christmas prices might increase.

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