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Commentaries tagged with prices and inflation

June 22, 2025	We Have a Healthy Middle ClassThe biggest issue in the middle class involves changes to consumption, not earnings.
May 25, 2025	Previewing the Long-Term Effects of TariffsThe dominant effect of the Trump tariffs will be to raise production costs on almost every American manufacturing firm.
May 18, 2025	It’s TDS to Suppose These Tariffs Are WorkingTrump has pushed the U.S. into an economic downturn that will be especially hurtful to Hoosiers.
May 11, 2025	Trump’s Tariff Recession Is HereMy new forecast, completed in late April, predicts a national recession began as early as March in reaction to Trump’s tarriffs.
December 1, 2024	Time to Learn a Real-World Lesson from TariffsTariffs are designed with the hope of pushing down our trade deficit.
September 29, 2024	The Soft Landing MiracleThe hard part was ending inflation without also causing a recession.
August 18, 2024	What would a conservative tax system look like?There are three big things we can tax: wealth, income and spending.
July 14, 2024	We Are Nearing Fed Rate CutsAll the talk of a crashing, risk-filled economy where people are struggling is unsupported by actual data.
June 16, 2024	What Is Driving Misperceptions About the Economy?In a recent survey, more than half of Americans said the economy is shrinking, when in fact it has been growing steadily for four years.
May 19, 2024	The End of Noncompete ClausesBusinesses that have shielded themselves from competition through noncompete clauses will need to do better.
March 31, 2024	The Political Economy of InflationThe public seems to prefer high unemployment to high inflation.
February 11, 2024	Some More Truth About Manufacturing and TradeManufacturing employment peaked decades earlier than manufacturing production.
December 17, 2023	Great Economic Holiday GiftsThe end of year data is giving economy watchers plenty cause for holiday cheer.
December 3, 2023	The ‘Great Discordance’ of Economic Fact and FeelingThat Americans appear to prefer higher unemployment over historically mild inflation is not something any of us should be proud of.
September 24, 2023	Don’t Expect the UAW to GrowThere is no evidence of a resurgence in the UAW or other industrial unions today.
July 23, 2023	Populists Are Wrong—Life Is Better TodayMany problems arise when comparing the past to today.
May 7, 2023	Money Illusion and InflationPrice fluctuation could cause inflation to last longer, but it didn’t cause the inflation, it simply extends the pain.
April 9, 2023	Some More Truth About Hospital MonopoliesWhy do not-for-profit hospitals show annual profits of 20 to 30 percent?
March 26, 2023	Bank Failures Warn of Deeper Economic ProblemsDuring the Great Recession, a whopping 0.014 percent of banks were closed by the FDIC.
February 5, 2023	HB1004 Would Restrict Hospital MonopoliesIndiana’s not-for-profit hospitals are among the most profitable businesses in the United States.
January 29, 2023	The 2023 ForecastThe reason for worry about a recession is the Federal Reserve’s response to high inflation.
December 4, 2022	Inflation Will Make the Legislature’s Job Difficult This YearThe budget challenges faced by state legislatures are twofold.
November 20, 2022	Black Friday Is ChangingConsumers and businesses alike will adjust to these tighter labor markets.
November 13, 2022	The Timing of Economic PolicyCentral planning of economic activity likely will result in wasteful, ineffective policies.
October 30, 2022	Remarkable Productivity Growth in Hospitality and TourismA more productive business requires—and hires—fewer workers.
October 2, 2022	Recession Likelihood GrowsIt is too early to predict a recession but not its effects.
August 28, 2022	Student Loan Forgiveness Is a Policy MistakeThis addition to federal debt during this time risks worsening inflation.
August 21, 2022	Limiting Future InflationOverreacting to inflation can be worse to the economy than underreacting.
July 3, 2022	The 246th Anniversary of ‘The Great Experiment’Our nation may be at its most divided, but I have great hope.
June 26, 2022	Inflation Affects Each Family DifferentlyWe understand earthquakes and hurricanes better than we do inflation.
June 19, 2022	Yes, State Stimulus Checks Boost InflationTax reductions and rebates can only increase inflation.
May 15, 2022	Inflation Is a Policy and Political ProblemWe should all be humble in our criticism of the federal government in causing inflation.
April 24, 2022	Ending Hospital Monopolies Is Needed to Restore Free MarketsThe economic argument against monopoly power is that it interferes with the free functioning of markets.
April 17, 2022	Where’s Inflation and Growth Headed?We’ve only had one long period of rate increase since the early 1980s, so the consumer response is unknown.
February 18, 2022	More Thoughts on InflationLike George Bailey explained in “It’s A Wonderful Life,” the money held in his savings and loan wasn’t in the bank safe, it was in the mortgages and small business loans around the city.
February 13, 2022	MMT Is Just Another Fad Without EvidenceThe controversy is a useful window into how we create knowledge and uncover truth.
January 9, 2022	IU Health’s Price Freeze Is a GimmickThe medical provider has become a strong regional monopoly in many parts of the state.
December 12, 2021	The 2022 ForecastFrom retail and restaurants to logistics and manufacturing firms, the U.S. economy has been astonishingly resilient.
December 5, 2021	Some More Talk About Inflation RisksA price increase does not equate inflation.
November 14, 2021	It Is Time to Be Honest About Debt, Spending and TaxationSpending that makes us more productive often pays for itself through increased GDP that is then taxed.
October 17, 2021	Market Adjustments Aren’t InflationToday, inflation is running far less than 1.0 percentage point off trend.
August 8, 2021	The Inflation Puzzle, Partly SolvedInflation reduces the standard of living of families and slows economic growth.
April 4, 2021	Inflation Is Not Our Top ProblemRecession effects are influenced by the tradeoff between unemployment and inflation.
July 22, 2018	Worsening Effect of TariffsTariffs have already affected the local economy.
February 18, 2018	Uncertainty, Not Inflation, Is the Stock Market's WorryIn practice, there are many constraints to inflation.
February 28, 2016	Zero Lower Bound and a World in RecessionThe prospect of zero or negative interest rates highlight a serious issue in today’s economy.
November 29, 2015	Nader vs Yellen: Round 1Monetary policy involves more than simple consideration of the interest rate.
August 16, 2015	What Drives the Fed Rate Hike Decision?What is the nature of their agreement and disagreements and how does it play into the public debate over economic policy?
August 9, 2015	Who Actually Pays Taxes?All taxes are ultimately paid by households, either directly through various taxes or indirectly through price changes.
January 4, 2015	Oil Prices in 2015Petroleum prices are part of the costs of almost all goods and services.
December 7, 2014	The Lessons of an Oil Price DropThis is a clear example of an often misunderstood economic principle at work.
September 28, 2014	Deflation WorriesA deflationary world is one where consumers and business have too little money to chase too many goods.
July 27, 2014	Truth and Consequences about InflationInflation is oft confused with simple fluctuations in supply and demand.
March 23, 2014	Inflation and GrowthCurrent models can teach the basics of economic functions, but fail to illustrate the conditions for long-term growth.
August 25, 2013	A New Antitrust CaseThe proposed business merger between two large airlines brings century-old anti-trust law to the forefront.
March 17, 2013	Economic Data Hold Little Good NewsDespite the delight in the media, the February data tell a wretched story.
February 17, 2013	Let’s Try a $25 Minimum WageLabor markets are subject to the laws of supply and demand.
September 9, 2012	Global Slowdown Comes to WyomingA slowing world economy… suggests increased risk of a recession here at home.
March 5, 2012	Gasoline Prices and the ElectionLast week our president gave what was billed as an important speech about gas prices.
January 3, 2012	A New Year’s ReviewThe New Year is a time of reflection. For someone who comments upon the economy and provides analysis and forecasts, it should be a time to take stock and be honest about where I was right and wrong. I begin with my errors.
December 12, 2011	Monetary Policy for Our TimesThis week in Muncie, Dr. Evans amplified his proposal to accept the risk of higher inflation to potentially cure high unemployment.
May 23, 2011	A Dose of Economic TheoryMost economists who study recessions and publish their own research argue that something can potentially be done to ease the transition from recession to recovery.
May 16, 2011	Gas Prices AgainIt is fundamental economics that drives gas price changes, and that is far more worrisome than speculation.
February 28, 2011	Oil Prices and the Middle EastAnything that has a doubtful or long-term effect has a large and immediate influence on gas prices.
December 20, 2010	The What and When of InflationInflation is solely caused by too much money chasing too few goods.
November 8, 2010	The Season of Quantitative EasingThe problem is that the resistance of banks to lending is not a monetary problem.
November 8, 2010	The Season of Quantitative EasingThe problem is that the resistance of banks to lending is not a monetary problem.
September 27, 2010	The End of a RecessionThe slow and uneven job growth combined with shockingly fast productivity growth eerily signals that much of our economy has gone through a structural change.
January 26, 2009	Prices are StickySticky prices are central to our understanding of what causes recessions.
September 8, 2008	Gas Prices not Policies affect Car PurchaseHigh gas costs propelled the adoption of alternative fueled vehicles.
August 4, 2008	Gas Prices Set by Demand not SpeculationGas prices are indeed high, but the futures price of petroleum isn’t what drives gasoline prices.
June 9, 2008	Competition Lowers Cable CostsThe passage of HEA 1279 in 2006 brought true competition to telecommunications.
June 2, 2008	Who Wins from High Priced Gas?High prices are accompanied by calls to identify potential villains.
May 19, 2008	Gas Prices Fueling Election NonsenseGetting votes has edged out energy independence or global warming as a top priority.
January 28, 2008	The Sub-Prime Thriller“The case of the loan market and the economy.”
September 24, 2007	Truth in Advertising at Wal-Mart"...the savings from shopping at Wal-Mart provide more nutrition supplement than the entire Food Stamps program nationwide.”
April 2, 2007	Why Economists Don't Get Invited Back to Parties "Economists hold some views that make them more than a little unpopular in polite circles."
January 8, 2007	Reflections on Our Economic Past "... inflation can be driven by inflationary expectations as much as anything."
January 1, 2007	Payroll Envy "It’s hard to speak dispassionately about people who earn more in a month than the average American makes in a lifetime."
May 29, 2006	Wanted: A Larger Perspective on Public Policy Issues "Compared to almost any other major city, real estate in Indianapolis is an underperforming asset, as it is in many other Indiana communities."
May 8, 2006	Solving the Mysteries of Gasoline Prices "Because geography is involved, information on prices tends to be imperfect.
October 28, 2005	Paying the Price for Free Goods. "The result is that businesses costs are unnecessarily high, affecting productivity and competitiveness"
August 19, 2005	The Upside of Higher Energy Prices "Those nasty little numbers that we see hanging on poles and billboards as we commute to and from our jobs seem to trump everything else when it comes to forming an opinion on the economy."
July 22, 2005	Hot Housing Markets Hard to Find Here "In the Indianapolis metropolitan area, median home prices nudged up by an almost imperceptible 0.5 percent last year."
July 8, 2005	Have Gas Prices Lost Their Sting? "Compared to medical care, college tuition, housing, or even food, the increase in gasoline prices over the past twenty-five years has been quite modest."
April 15, 2005	What Is a Price Index, Anyway? "The questions may be technical, but their ramifications are profound."
April 1, 2005	Revisiting the Crystal Ball "We’ve all seen the results of strong worldwide demand for energy every time we drive by a gas pump."
December 24, 2004	Evaluating the Price Environment "The prices of raw materials like energy, cement, metals, and wood products have risen significantly in the last twelve months."
October 22, 2004	Why High Costs Don’t Matter "Boasting about costs to companies with specialized needs becomes a waste of time."
December 26, 2003	Enjoy These Stable Prices While They Last "The economy is not inflation-proof, yet every economic forecaster who has looked at the trends and has made a prediction of higher inflation so far has been burned by the refusal of actual prices to cooperate."
December 26, 2003	Enjoy These Stable Prices While They Last "The economy is not inflation-proof, yet every economic forecaster who has looked at the trends and has made a prediction of higher inflation so far has been burned by the refusal of actual prices to cooperate."
June 6, 2003	Back to School for the Business Media "As arguments over economic policy routinely pit one advocate's statistics and projections against another's, the business media has too often failed to police the debate and flag the distortions that are inevitably served up by those in the arena. "
May 10, 2002	Is Inflation Getting Up Off the Mat? "Bankers and investors everywhere, and especially in the Federal Reserve, remain ever vigilant for any signs in the economy that price levels are about to accelerate."
February 8, 2002	Recipe for Low Price Inflation "What do you get when you mix a strong dollar, a recession, and an unexpected surplus of crude oil production? In the national economy, the result is all around us: very low rates of price inflation."
December 28, 2001	Inflation: The Non-Story of the Year "The strong dollar, overproduction and sluggish demand, coupled with plummeting energy prices, has fostered an environment where raising prices is simply not a feasible option."
October 19, 2001	Ignorance Isn't Bliss When It Comes to Gas Prices "Given the sensitivity of our motorized population to upticks in gasoline prices, the public anger provoked by stories of five dollars per gallon prices charged by a few individual gas stations was not surprising."
April 20, 2001	Assessing the Impact of Higher Natural Gas Prices "There are two ways of looking at the substantial rise in the price of natural gas that has occurred in the U.S. economy in the last nine months."
February 23, 2001	An Unwelcome Surprise From the Energy Sector "The pain that started when gasoline prices shot up last summer has only gotten worse as natural gas, propane, and electricity costs followed suit later in the year."

Center for Business and Economic Research - Ball State University

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Commentaries tagged with prices and inflation