Around this time last year there was a lot of debate, some of it ill tempered, about who deserved blame for soaring inflation.
Now most of that is gone, replaced by a debate, some of it ill tempered, about who deserves credit for the rapid decline in inflation.
That is, they argue that inflation is falling because the economy is finally unsnarling the kinks created by the Covid-19 pandemic and its aftereffects.
Here’s the reason for the argument: As I documented the other day, as of late last year most economists expected Fed rate hikes — which have driven mortgage rates to a 21-year high — to reduce inflation.
But they expected this disinflation to come at the cost of a substantial rise in unemployment.
Organizations:
Fox, Federal Reserve