In economics, inflation is a sustained increase in the general price level of goods and services in an economy over a period of time. When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services. Consequently, inflation reflects a reduction in the purchasing power per unit of money – a loss of real value in the medium of exchange and unit of account within the economy. A chief measure of price inflation is the inflation rate, the annualized percentage change in a general price index over time. Inflation affects an economy in various ways, both positive and negative. Negative effects of inflation include an increase in the opportunity cost of holding money, uncertainty over future inflation which may discourage investment and savings, and if inflation were rapid enough, shortages of goods as consumers begin hoarding out of concern that prices will increase in the future. Positive effects include ensuring that central banks can adjust real interest rates, and encouraging investment in non-monetary capital projects. Economists generally believe that high rates of inflation and hyperinflation are caused by an excessive growth of the money supply.
![Video Thumbnail](https://img.haystack.tv/v1/240x135/haystack-thumbnails/yahoofinance/1r4ailPOe/1r4ailPOe_720.jpg)
- Fed's preferred inflation gauge ticked slightly higher in June
![Video Thumbnail](https://img.haystack.tv/v1/240x135/haystack-thumbnails/bloomberg/Zc744DFYe/Zc744DFYe_720.jpg)
- Hunt: Summer of Democracy is Heightening Risk
![Video Thumbnail](https://img.haystack.tv/v1/240x135/haystack-thumbnails/bloomberg/9dbms5uYe/9dbms5uYe_720.jpg)
- Summers: Republicans Creating Liz Truss-like Moment
![Video Thumbnail](https://img.haystack.tv/v1/240x135/haystack-thumbnails/bloomberg/UNPo1vAYe/UNPo1vAYe_720.jpg)
- Rotation Out of Megacap Tech
![Video Thumbnail](https://img.haystack.tv/v1/240x135/haystack-thumbnails/bloomberg/T8v24DFYe/T8v24DFYe_720.jpg)
- The Power of Merchandise
![Video Thumbnail](https://img.haystack.tv/v1/240x135/haystack-thumbnails/reutersvideo/T5csyxjQe/T5csyxjQe_720.jpg)
- The Week in Numbers: have you tried rebooting?
![Video Thumbnail](https://img.haystack.tv/v1/240x135/haystack-thumbnails/abcnews/cbPMGIJXe/cbPMGIJXe_720.jpg)
- What role will the US economy plan in the November election?
![Video Thumbnail](https://img.haystack.tv/v1/240x135/haystack-thumbnails/bloomberg/WcjR9jsLe/WcjR9jsLe_720.jpg)
- Pictet Research's Vassalou on More Coordination Between Fiscal, Monitary Policy
![Video Thumbnail](https://img.haystack.tv/v1/240x135/haystack-thumbnails/bloomberg/A1pEuMCOe/A1pEuMCOe_720.jpg)
- PCE Consistent With September Rate Cut, Moody's Zandi Says
![Video Thumbnail](https://img.haystack.tv/v1/240x135/haystack-thumbnails/bloomberg/ZZ66oAU7e/ZZ66oAU7e_720.jpg)
- Can Trump Win Without Biden?
![Video Thumbnail](https://img.haystack.tv/v1/240x135/haystack-thumbnails/wtxl/BAdQU3ZZe/BAdQU3ZZe_720.jpg)
- Inflation is down but the need for meals are necessary through Second Harvest
![Video Thumbnail](https://img.haystack.tv/v1/240x135/haystack-thumbnails/reutersvideo/pZSJcfdTe/pZSJcfdTe_720.jpg)
- Business Lookahead: Tech giant earnings, Fed meeting
![Video Thumbnail](https://img.haystack.tv/v1/240x135/haystack-thumbnails/bloomberg/0Uq04DFYe/0Uq04DFYe_720.jpg)
- Carrots to Get Workers Back in Office
![Video Thumbnail](https://img.haystack.tv/v1/240x135/haystack-thumbnails/reutersvideo/EC8PHWzYe/EC8PHWzYe_720.jpg)
- Inflation data, Big Tech boost U.S. stocks
![Video Thumbnail](https://img.haystack.tv/v1/240x135/haystack-thumbnails/reutersvideo/ww1TCjYWe/ww1TCjYWe_720.jpg)
- Trump trade a bit 'confounding' -CIO
![Video Thumbnail](https://img.haystack.tv/v1/240x135/haystack-thumbnails/bloomberg/Mrvr0QNLe/Mrvr0QNLe_720.jpg)
- US PCE Report Preview: What to Watch for
![Video Thumbnail](https://img.haystack.tv/v1/240x135/haystack-thumbnails/bloomberg/P5PPuMCOe/P5PPuMCOe_720.jpg)
- US Core PCE Rises 0.2% in June, Personal Spending Remains Firm
![Video Thumbnail](https://img.haystack.tv/v1/240x135/haystack-thumbnails/fox10phoenix/TRTiXHpaf/TRTiXHpaf_720.jpg)
- Small inflation rise keeps interest rate cut likely
![Video Thumbnail](https://img.haystack.tv/v1/240x135/haystack-thumbnails/reutersvideo/PTtVDYgSe/PTtVDYgSe_720.jpg)
- U.S. prices continue to cool; Fed meeting in focus
![Video Thumbnail](https://img.haystack.tv/v1/240x135/haystack-thumbnails/cheddar/7PvgM8wRe/7PvgM8wRe_720.jpg)
- Inflation Eases as Fed Considers September Rate Cut