One word defines this year: “inflation.” Reaching levels not seen in 40 years, inflation in the US has been tenacious, peaking at 9.1% in June and budging only slightly in the face of government policies aiming to reduce it further. Its impact has been inescapable. As we wrap up 2022, there is widespread concern about what the inflation levels of this year mean for the next. But what is inflation exactly, and what does it tell us?
Inflation in the Modern Era
Americans have heard quite a bit about inflation lately and probably noticed how the price of goods and services have risen. This is commonly referred to as inflation, but it is a little like putting the cart before the horse. In fact, the rising cost of goods and services are merely the symptoms of a debasement in the reserve currency. In other words, inflation is a word used to describe the symptoms of a weakening of the dollar relative to assets and goods and services. Understanding its implication requires an examination of inflation within the context of the modern economic era.