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?