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SHORT-RUN PRODUCTION ALTERNATIVES: A firm faces three production options in the short run based on a comparison between price, average total cost, and average variable cost. If price is greater than average total cost, a firm earns an economic profit by producing the quantity that equates marginal revenue with marginal cost. If price is less than average total cost but greater than average variable cost, a firm incurs an economic loss, but produces the quantity that equates marginal revenue with marginal cost. If price is less than average variable cost, a firm shuts down production in the short run, incurring an economic loss equal to total fixed cost.
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INFLATION RATE: The percentage change in the price level from one period to the next. The inflation rate is most commonly presented as an annual average, the percentage change in the average price level from one year to the next. The two most common price indexes used to measure the price level and the inflation rate are the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the GDP price deflator. The inflation rate is one of several key indicators of business-cycle instability and the overall health of the macroeconomy, with primary focus on tracking the goal of price stability. The inflation rate, measured as the percentage change in a price index such as the Consumer Price Index or the GDP price deflator, seeks to quantify changes in the average price level. While the inflation rate is generally positive, indicating inflation, it also can be negative, indicating deflation. Should a positive inflation rate decline over time, then disinflation occurs.The Historical TrendInflation Rate | | As indicated in the accompanying graph, the inflation rate (computed using the CPI) tends to vary over the course of business-cycle activity, rising during expansions and falling during contractions. The range is usually under 6 percent, but it has been as high as 14 percent. During the expansion that occupied the better part of the 1960s, the inflation rate rose from the 2 percent level to 6 percent. During the contraction of the early 1990s, the inflation rate fell back from 6 percent to 2 percent. The most noted feature of this graph is the double spike of inflation during the 1970s, reaching one spike of about 12 percent in the early 1970s, then after declining during the 1973-75 contraction, hit an even higher peak of 14 percent in 1980. The 1970s is notable as the decade of stagflation, simultaneous high rates of both inflation and unemployment. Another, perhaps less obvious but also important, feature of this graph is the declining inflation during the expansion of the mid 1980s and through much of the 1990s expansion. Rather than inflation rising during expansions, inflation actually declined. The 1980s decline was likely due, as much as anything, to a reversal of the factors causing the stagflation of the 1970s (energy prices, government regulations) while the 1990s decline was likely attributable to technology-induced economic growth. A Simple FormulaThe inflation rate is a relatively straightforward calculation of the percentage change in the price level, measured by a price index such as the CPI or GDP price deflator. As illustrated in the following equation, the inflation rate is simply the change in the price index from one period (usually year) to the next, divided by the price index in the original period. This change is then multiplied by 100 to put it the result into an easily recognizable form.inflation rate | = | index for period 2 - index for period 1 index for period 1 | x 100 |
Crunching the NumbersConsider a calculation or two to demonstrate. If the GDP price deflator is 150 in year 1 and 155 in year 2, then the inflation rate is 155 minus 150, divided by 150. Adjusting to percentage terms by multiplying by 100 results in a 3.3 percent inflation rate.inflation rate | = | 155 - 150 150 | x 100 | = | 3.3 percent |
A more recent realistic calculation can be done for 2003 using the CPI. The CPI was 179.9 in 2002 and 184.0 in 2003. Plugging these numbers into the formula gives 184.0 minus 179.9 divided by 179.9. In percentage terms this is a 2.3 percent inflation rate, as illustrated here: inflation rate | = | 184.0 - 179.9 179.9 | x 100 | = | 2.3 percent |
Annualized NumbersWhile the inflation rate is commonly calculated for annual changes in the price level, annualized inflation rates for other periods, especially months for the CPI and quarters for the GDP price deflator, are also frequently reported. For example, the inflation rate from June 2003 to July 2003 can be calculated using the CPI. Or the inflation rate from the first quarter 2003 to the second quarter 2003 can be calculated using the GDP price deflator. When inflation rates are calculated for periods less than a year, they are generally adjusted to annualized rates. This requires a slight modification in the formula, multiplying by the number of periods per year (12 for monthly, 4 for quarterly).inflation rate | = | index for period 2 - index for period 1 index for period 1 | x 100 x periods per year |
To illustrate, consider that the CPI for June of 2003 is 183.7 and for July of 2003 it is 183.9. Inserting this values into the formula gives: inflation rate | = | 183.9 - 183.7 183.7 | x 100 x 12 | = | 1.3 percent |
The ACTUAL percentage change from June 2003 to July 2003, the ACTUAL inflation rate, is 0.109 percent. This, however, is the percentage change in the price level from one month to the next. Because people are accustomed to working with ANNUAL changes in the price level, it is more convenient to convert this monthly inflation rate to an annualized inflation rate. This is accomplished when 0.109 percent is multiplied by 12, the number of months per year. This step produces the 1.3 percent inflation rate noted in the calculation. Care should be taken when interpreting the inflation rate calculated in this manner. The inflation rate is NOT 1.3 percent for July 2003. The price level did NOT increase by 1.3 percent from June 2003 to July 2003. The correct interpretation is that the inflation rate would be 1.3 percent if the price level increased at the same pace for 12 MONTHS as it did from June 2003 to July 2003. Of course, the price level might actually rise at a faster or slower pace than that between June and July, meaning the ACTUAL inflation rate for the 12-month period might be more or less than 1.3 percent. The annualized inflation rates are convenient because they enable comparison from one month the next. For example, the ACTUAL percentage change in the CPI from July 2003 to August 2003 is 0.272 percent. While a comparison with the 0.109 percent for July suggests that inflation is greater in August, how much greater is not readily obvious. The annualized inflation for August rate, however, is 3.3 percent. By working with annual inflation rates, comparing 1.3 percent for July with 3.3 percent for August is a little more meaningful.
Recommended Citation:INFLATION RATE, AmosWEB Encyclonomic WEB*pedia, http://www.AmosWEB.com, AmosWEB LLC, 2000-2024. [Accessed: October 12, 2024]. Check Out These Related Terms... | | | | | | | | | | | Or For A Little Background... | | | | | | | | | | | | And For Further Study... | | | | | | | | | | Related Websites (Will Open in New Window)... | | |
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YELLOW CHIPPEROON [What's This?]
Today, you are likely to spend a great deal of time touring the new suburban shopping complex seeking to buy either a case of blank recordable DVDs or a pair of red goulashes with shiny buckles. Be on the lookout for malfunctioning pocket calculators. Your Complete Scope
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The Dow Jones family of stock market price indexes began with a simple average of 11 stock prices in 1884.
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"Nothing ever built arose to touch the skies unless some man dreamed that it should, some man believed that it could, and some man willed that it must. " -- Charles Kettering, inventor
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PDI Personal Disposable Income
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