Monday 928
Mostly summarized from Gregory Mankiw’s Principles of Economics, 5th Ed. PART 10 Money and Prices in the Long Run Chapter 29 of 36 Money Growth and Inflation Section 2 of 29 … Most prices rise over time, this increase in the level of prices is called inflation. We have seen how economists measure the inflation rate as the percentage change in the consumer price index (CPI) and other indexes. These price indexes show over the past 70 years prices have risen an average of about 4% per year. Over 70 years, a 4% annual inflation rate results in a sixteen times increase in the price level. On average something that cost one dollar 70 years ago costs $16 now. … Inflation may seem natural and inevitable, but it is not. There were periods in the 19th century when most prices fell, an occurrence called deflation. The average price level in the U.S. economy was 23% lower in 1896 than in 1880. Deflation was a major issue in the presidential election of 1896. Farmers with large debts suffere...