Inflation

:This page is on the topic of price inflation in economics. For alternative meanings see inflation (disambiguation).

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In economics, inflation is an increase in the general level of prices of a given kind. General inflation is a fall in the market value or purchasing power of money within an economy, as compared to currency devaluation which is the fall of the market value of a currency between economies. General inflation is referred to as a rise in the general level of prices. The former applies to the value of the currency within the national region of use, whereas the latter applies to the external value on international markets. The extent to which these two phenomena are related is open to economic debate.

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Inflation is the opposite of deflation. Disinflation refers to slowing the rate of inflation, that is, prices are still rising, but at a slower rate than before. Reflation is a term used to denote inflation after a period of deflation, meaning inflation designed to restore prices to a previous level.

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Inflation is measured by taking a "basket" of goods, and comparing the prices at two intervals, and adjusting for changes in the intrinsic basket. Thus, there are different measurements of inflation, depending on the basket of goods selected. The most common measures are of consumer inflation, producer inflation and GDP deflators, or price indexes. The last measures inflation in the entire economy. Inflation measurements sometimes exclude volatile goods from the basket to be able to guage the "core" rate of inflation. (See Core inflation)

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In some contexts the word "inflation" is used to mean an increase in the money supply, which is sometimes seen as the cause of price increases. Some economists (of the Austrian school) still prefer this meaning of the term, rather than to mean the price increases themselves. Thus, for example, some observers of the 1920s in the United States refer to "inflation" even though prices of goods were not increasing at the time. Below, the word "inflation" will be used to refer to a general increase in prices unless otherwise specified.

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Economics: Economics (from the Greek οίκος , 'house', and νομος , 'rule', hence "household management") is a social science that studies the production, distribution, trade and consumption of goods and services. Economics is said to be positive when it tries...

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