Basically the IMF saying that we’ve defeated inflation by keeping around 2% (forgetting to mention they are looking at a yearly number, and not talking about he last couple of years of very high inflation). Also very heavily glossing over the stagnant job market and ultimately saying the economy is doing swimmingly!
Also known as pretty obvious bullshit.
Huh? Yes 2% is the usual inflation target, so getting it down to that level constitutes defeating inflation. We wouldn’t really want it to go any lower, much less so low that it turns into the deflation it would take to reverse the price increases of the high inflation era as you seem to be arguing for.
Not sure what you’re getting at with the job market either - we have low unemployment and high wage growth, that’s about as good as job markets get.
Yes, but they don’t even mention the yearly target in the article, just broadly allude to inflation not being an issue anymore, even though it has actively driven prices up significantly for pretty much everything for the last few years. It is absolutely a pain point that is often glossed over when talking about the economy, usually when commenting how good it is.
As for the job market, I’m in tech. It’s insanely hard to get a job right now, as most places simply aren’t hiring (or worse, put up job ads but have no plan to fill them, as insane as that is). Wages have stagnated for sure, and housing has gone up in price. I haven’t actually seen many high wage growth for a lot of stuff around me either, mostly just adjusting lower end wages so that people can (mostly) afford rent. 2% inflation is better than the last couple of years, but the article linked completely downplayed all of those factors. Which is why I said it was bullshit.
Yes, but they don’t even mention the yearly target in the article, just broadly allude to inflation not being an issue anymore, even though it has actively driven prices up significantly for pretty much everything for the last few years. It is absolutely a pain point that is often glossed over when talking about the economy, usually when commenting how good it is.
I’m not sure what to make of this complaint. Yes the article assumes some basic level of understanding of what these terms mean. We had a bout of inflation, meaning prices rose quickly, and then it ended and prices are back to their usual flat or slow increase rate of change.
As for the job market, I’m in tech. It’s insanely hard to get a job right now, as most places simply aren’t hiring (or worse, put up job ads but have no plan to fill them, as insane as that is). Wages have stagnated for sure, and housing has gone up in price. I haven’t actually seen many high wage growth for a lot of stuff around me either, mostly just adjusting lower end wages so that people can (mostly) afford rent. 2% inflation is better than the last couple of years, but the article linked completely downplayed all of those factors. Which is why I said it was bullshit.
Ah well there’s your issue right there - tech in particular is not doing so hot right now, but most other parts of the economy are doing great. Got to look at the data on the big picture and not just what you see in your own little niche.
Yes 2% is the usual inflation target, so getting it down to that level constitutes defeating inflation.
But the layperson doesn’t know that. When the average person hears that inflation has been defeated, they assume that means prices are going to come back down. I think it’s understandable why people think that: If inflation means prices go up, then the end of inflation must mean that prices go back down. Of course, that’s not the case. For reasons most people don’t understand, prices must continue to go up every year, albeit preferably at a rate the experts consider manageable. You can try to explain this to people but they might not be receptive to being told that prices are just going to keep going up, forever, and it has to be that way because of some complex economic concepts that are beyond their understanding. It’s honestly kind of depressing, being hit with the reality that you’re always going to be playing catch up with increasing prices.
And yet you’ll have dipshits on Pierce Morgan saying that the big question “are you better of now than you are for years ago?” Implying that most people are doing worse than they were for years ago…during the height of the pandemic.
And they always answer the question themselves and say everyone is worse off. I am much better off though. I can leave my house and I have a good supply of toilet paper. That’s some crazy gaslighting.
