Saturday, 25 June 2011

Shall We Expect Another Hit From Inflation?

By Jack Wogan


We have heard so many times that inflation has stricken once again that we have slowly become exasperated with it. Many people do not know exactly what this is, but everybody fears it. One sign of inflation is the rising of prices. This is when food and services demand more money. Thus the money we paid for our everyday food will not be enough to buy the same quantity anymore. This means that the purchasing power of money has diminished and the currencies deal with a loss of their real value.

Sometimes inflation is not the only thing we have to fear. The hyperinflation is just as bad, if not even worse. Actually it is an out of control inflation. It is generated by an excessive supply of money. Social uprisings, wars, currency meltdowns etc usually trigger the hyperinflation. When more money is printed (and we know it has no gold or other precious metals backing), the inflation is rising, thus creating a vicious circle. Inflation is considered to have positive effects too, but unfortunately, people are more acquainted to its negative side.

Nowadays we all have to deal with rising of the food prices. It is often accompanied by the ascending price of oil and other commodities. The concern regarding rising prices in the future determines people to make reserves of goods. It is what eventually leads to shortages. People's need to protect themselves against future inflation also makes them avoid investments and saving money. During blurred economic times, many choose to make reserves of gold or other commodities over which inflation has no power. The advice of specialists is priceless in this respect.

Inflation manifests itself by people hoarding, increased level of prices and economy that refuses to grow. To fight all these effects, governments often take the decision to pump more money in the economy. This is a double-barreled measure. After it was applied by the Federal Reserve in America, the dollar started to lose value. Printing more money will eventually lead to more inflation. In the opinion of specialists a low or medium rate of inflation is good for every economy since it can diminish the effects of recessions. Such an inflation rate is considered to prevent the monetary policy from trying to stabilize the economy.

Inflation is already part of our lives and some of us have even gotten used to its outbreaks every now and then. In order to keep our assets safe from it, we have to consider buying gold or other precious metals and make them part of our investments portfolio. This is how we can maintain the value of our assets regardless the inflation.




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