Has a world of fiat currency and government spending caused runaway global inflation?
*The Economist, May 22. 2008:
"Inflation's Back
Double-digit price rises are about to afflict two-thirds of the world's
population
RONALD REAGAN once described inflation as being 'as violent as a
mugger, as frightening as an armed robber and as deadly as a
hit-man.' Until recently, central bankers thought that this thug
had been locked up for life. Thanks to sound monetary policies,
inflation worldwide had stayed low in recent years. But the mugger is
back on the prowl.
Even though America is close to recession and growth in other developed
economies has slowed, inflation is rising. Jean-Claude Trichet,
president of the European Central Bank, this week gave warning about
the mistakes of the 1970s, when inflation was let loose at huge cost to
growth. His words were aimed at rich-country central banks, but
policymakers in emerging economies are the ones who should most take
heed. In countries such as China, India, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia
even the often dodgy official statistics show prices have risen by
8-10% over the past year; in Russia the rate is over 14%; in Argentina
the true figure is 23% and in Venezuela it is 29%. If you measure the
numbers correctly, two-thirds of the world's population will probably
suffer double-digit rates of inflation this summer (see article).
A 1970s reunion you really don't want to attend
Taken as a whole (and using official figures), the average world
inflation rate has risen to 5.5%, its highest since 1999. The main
cause has been the surge in the prices of food and oil, which briefly
soared above $135 a barrel this week. But Mr Trichet's concern is that
higher headline rates could push up inflation expectations, leading to
bigger pay demands, and so trigger a wage-price spiral, as in the
1970s. Central bankers' mistake then was to hold monetary policy too
loose, so that higher oil prices quickly fed into other prices. So it
is worrying that global monetary policy is now at its loosest since the
1970s: the average world real interest rate is negative.
By slashing interest rates as inflation has climbed, has the Fed sowed
the seeds of a new inflationary era?"
*This information is solely a highlight of the opinion of a third-party publication and is incomplete. Please subscribe to this publication for the full and timely opinion of the author and call a Monex Account Representative for any additional up-to-date information. This is not an offer to buy or sell precious metals. Investors should obtain advice based on their own individual circumstances and understand the risk before making any investment decision.
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