When It Comes to Deflation, You Are Walking Into a Trap
February 26, 2010
by David Burns
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There is a buzz going through the Interwebs. Deflation is back, they say. The core CPI numbers declined for the first time since 1982, down 0.1%
I’m going to discuss 5 topics today so let’s dive right in.
1 Why Deflationists are always wrong.
2. Why deflation, in normal circumstances, is a great thing.
3. Why the CPI is a useless statistic
4. A realistic assessment of current price levels
5. Why the Federal Reserve wants you to worry your poor little head about a 0.1% drop in price.
Why Deflationists are always wrong
According to deflationists, falling prices are right around the corner. The inflationists, on the other hand, predict rising prices but often say that the rise may not come for some time. You won’t hear a deflationist predicting prices falling by massive amounts. They can’t tell you how long it will last or how severe it will be. You never hear the term “mass deflation.”
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