When Will Inflation Drop?

Look behind the hood, not at the whole economy, to see where inflation is headed.

Inflation increased from 2.5 percent in January 2021 to 7.5 percent in January 2022, and it is expected to rise even more when the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on oil prices is felt. However, economists predict that by December, inflation would be between 2.7 percent and 4%.

What will be the rate of inflation in 2022?

According to a Bloomberg survey of experts, the average annual CPI is expected to grow 5.1 percent in 2022, up from 4.7 percent last year.

Will inflation start to fall soon?

Certain areas of the small business community that are more susceptible to the global supply chain are under more strain, but there are encouraging signs across the board. Overall, companies are doing a decent job of passing costs on to customers, with corporate profit margins as broad as they’ve ever been since World War II, but the largest corporations are reaping the rewards of pricing power.

Small firms often do not have large cash reserves on average, they have 34 days of cash on hand, according to Alignable making it tough to recover from any financial setback. “As companies try to recover from Covid, any little bit of more margin they can scrape out is essential,” Groves said. “With cost hikes and the inability to pass through, we will see more and more firms struggling.”

Business-to-corporate payment transactions, a critical indicator of business health, aren’t exhibiting any indications of strain, with even small businesses paying their invoices on time. “At least for the time being, they’ve managed,” Zandi added.

Small business sentiment, like consumer sentiment, is reactive and based on the most recent information or anecdote rather than long-term forecasting. This means that current gas and fuel prices, which can be major inputs for small businesses, can cause a sharper shift in sentiment in the short term. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York released an inflation survey on Monday that revealed the first drop in Americans’ inflation predictions in almost a year, albeit it remains around a record high.

But, according to Zandi, the recent data from Main Street is “evidence positive” that there is a problem.

After surviving Covid and witnessing hyper-growth during the early stages of the epidemic, Pusateri described herself as “a lot less confident now.” “I thought to myself, ‘Oh my God, we made it through 2020.’ We were still profitable. Then, out of nowhere, I couldn’t find any ingredients.”

Nana Joes Granola has gone from a 135 percent profit increase during the packaged foods boom to just breaking even in a pricing climate that is attacking it from all sides. In addition to supply challenges, labor inflation, and a lack of buyer leverage, freight prices have increased across the country, forcing the company to abandon its free delivery strategy for its direct consumer business. “We’re about to get steamrolled. Everywhere I turn, there are price hikes “Pusateri remarked.

Inflation is expected to moderate later in 2022, according to the financial market and economists like Zandi, but if it doesn’t happen quickly, “the small business owners will be correct,” he said.

“I don’t think inflation will go away very soon,” added Pusateri. “We’re going to be stranded here.”

Is inflation likely to worsen?

If inflation stays at current levels, it will be determined by the path of the epidemic in the United States and overseas, the amount of further economic support (if any) provided by the government and the Federal Reserve, and how people evaluate future inflation prospects.

The cost and availability of inputs the stuff that businesses need to make their products and services is a major factor.

The lack of semiconductor chips, an important ingredient, has pushed up prices in the auto industry, much as rising lumber prices have pushed up construction expenses. Oil, another important input, has also been growing in price. However, for these inputs to have a long-term impact on inflation, prices would have to continue rising at the current rate.

As an economist who has spent decades analyzing macroeconomic events, I believe that this is unlikely to occur. For starters, oil prices have leveled out. For instance, while transportation costs are rising, they are not increasing as quickly as they have in the past.

As a result, inflation is expected to moderate in 2022, albeit it will remain higher than it was prior to the pandemic. The Wall Street Journal polled economists in early January, and they predicted that inflation will be around 3% in the coming year.

However, supply interruptions will continue to buffet the US (and the global economy) as long as surprises occur, such as China shutting down substantial sectors of its economy in pursuit of its COVID zero-tolerance policy or armed conflicts affecting oil supply.

We can’t blame any single institution or political party for inflation because there are so many contributing factors. Individuals and businesses were able to continue buying products and services as a result of the $4 trillion federal government spending during the Trump presidency, which helped to keep prices stable. At the same time, the Federal Reserve’s commitment to low interest rates and emergency financing protected the economy from collapsing, which would have resulted in even more precipitous price drops.

The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan passed under Biden’s presidency adds to price pressures, although not nearly as much as energy price hikes, specific shortages, and labor supply decreases. The latter two have more to do with the pandemic than with specific measures.

Some claim that the government’s generous and increased unemployment insurance benefits restricted labor supply, causing businesses to bid up salaries and pass them on to consumers. However, there is no proof that this was the case, and in any case, those advantages have now expired and can no longer be blamed for ongoing inflation.

It’s also worth remembering that inflation is likely a necessary side effect of economic aid, which has helped keep Americans out of destitution and businesses afloat during a period of unprecedented hardship.

Inflation would have been lower if the economic recovery packages had not offered financial assistance to both workers and businesses, and if the Federal Reserve had not lowered interest rates and purchased US government debt. However, those decreased rates would have come at the expense of a slew of bankruptcies, increased unemployment, and severe economic suffering for families.

Will prices rise in 2022?

As the first quarter of 2022 draws to a close, Americans continue to endure rising inflation that shows no signs of abating in the near future. The cost of food grew by 7.9% between February 2021 and February 2022, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). And, while it was the highest rate of food inflation in more than 40 years, Trading Economics predicts that both grocery and restaurant prices will continue to rise.

According to the USDA’s March 2022 forecast report, the cost of food at home (defined as everything purchased at a grocery store) is expected to rise by another 3-4 percent. Food purchased outside of the home (or at a restaurant) is expected to increase by 5.5-6.5 percent. Restaurant food prices are predicted to rise to new heights as a result of these hikes, outpacing inflation rates from the previous year. Trading Economics forecasts that food inflation would moderate to roughly 2% in 2023 and 2024, according to Trading Economics. However, they expect that inflation would wind up being approximately 8.9% in the first quarter of 2022.

With such high inflation forecasts, it may be useful to know which food categories would be the most affected. In case you’d like to plan to cut back in the coming months, the USDA has provided its estimates for both grocery categories and costs of food sourced by restaurants.

How do you deal with rising prices?

For many Canadians, high inflation can be a source of financial hardship. One strategy to combat inflation is to increase your income to match prices, but this is tougher said than done for a variety of reasons.

If producing extra money isn’t an option right now, here are some other options for dealing with rising expenditures.

Reassess your spending habits

Take a look at your cash flow and where it’s going if inflation is making it tough to stick to your budget. Determine whether there are any items you can live without temporarily in order to cover needs such as housing, groceries, transportation, and utilities. For many, this reevaluation will mean putting non-essential spending like dining out, subscription services, and gym memberships on hold.

Take on new debt sparingly (and avoid variable rates)

Although the Bank of Canada kept debt interest rates low to combat inflation throughout the epidemic, rates are projected to rise at some point in 2022. Variable-rate debts could become more expensive if this happens.

You may refinance your variable-rate mortgage into a fixed-rate loan or combine high-interest credit card debt into a personal loan with regular payments to protect yourself from this abrupt surge.

Also, be mindful of taking on a lot of new debt in general: additional debt adds a new monthly payment to your budget and restricts your financial freedom, even if rates are low or fixed.

Become a sale shopper

When it comes to necessities, now is the time to get serious about being a discount shopper. This doesn’t imply you should become a rabid couponer; rather, you should pay greater attention to sales and let them drive where and when you shop.

Another wise method to economize is to take advantage of price matching rules. It could mean getting a great deal on something you need or obtaining a refund if something you just bought goes on sale later.

Maximize loyalty and reward programs

When it comes to grocery stores, many Canadians take advantage of membership programs given by their preferred retailer, such as PC Optimum (the loyalty program operated by Loblaw Companies and Shoppers Drug Mart). Before you go shopping, take a few minutes to check out your program’s app or website to see what bargains are available. Use them to get ideas for your shopping list and get bonus points for future purchases.

Don’t forget to include in any credit card points or incentives you’ve earned. You might be able to use them to get cash back, travel discounts, and other benefits. Furthermore, certain credit card issuers conduct special promotions from time to time where you can redeem points for items or gift cards, which could come in handy and save you money.

Be strategic with savings

High inflation has more bad consequences than just rising prices: it can also mean earning less interest on your investments. Consider a Guaranteed Investment Certificate if you’re concerned about investment volatility or don’t like the fluctuating rates of high-interest savings accounts. Your money will be unavailable for a length of time (from a few months to many years) if you invest in a GIC, but the interest rate will be fixed. During instances of strong inflation, your HISA or investment profits may decline, but a GIC will yield interest at a steady rate.

Is inflation expected to fall in 2022?

Is now a good time to invest in US dollars for 2021?

We’ve just come out of an incredible year. We would have anticipated a difficult year for global financial markets if we had known in December that 2020 would bring a worldwide pandemic, 11th-hour Brexit discussions, and extraordinary efforts to overturn the US election outcome. Despite this, major equity indexes have had a great year. Similarly, if we had anticipated that the United States would become a pandemic hotspot, we would have predicted major dollar depreciation. Nonetheless, given that this is the first year of a longer-term U.S. dollar bear market a period in the cycle when currency rates are most volatile the 3% trade-weighted loss thus far in 2020 is low (Exhibit 1).

Exhibit 1: U.S. trade-weighted dollar

Why hasn’t the greenback dropped even more? We believe the explanation is that investors have shied away from shorting the dollar due to shorter-term issues such as the pandemic, Brexit, and political uncertainty in the United States. Each of these danger factors, it may be argued, is on the verge of being resolved: COVID-19 vaccinations are on their way, the United Kingdom and the European Union are close to reaching an agreement on the United Kingdom’s leave, and President Trump is showing signs of permitting a smooth transition of power to Vice President-elect Joe Biden. Longer-term considerations will take precedence in the market narrative as tensions relax, and investors will be more confident in selling the dollar. While we cannot predict what 2021 will bring, we are becoming increasingly sure that the dollar will decline next year. Fundamental fundamentals such as the United States’ fiscal and current-account deficits, as well as relatively strong economic growth in the rest of the globe, are among the key headwinds that should force the dollar lower.

One thing we can say with some certainty is that the Federal Reserve of the United States’ (Fed) monetary policy is working against the dollar an uncommon claim given that most industrialized countries have nominal interest rates near zero. With little room to manoeuvre short-term interest rates, the Fed has become the first major central bank to say it will allow, if not promote, a period of higher-than-target inflation to compensate for recent price shifts. The result of this strategy, known as “average inflation targeting,” is likely to enhance inflation expectations while further depressing real interest rates (nominal interest minus inflation expectations). Indeed, real rates in the United States have plummeted to negative levels in the eight months since the end of March, despite nominal 10-year yields rising. This disparity is a direct outcome of investors’ predictions that US inflation will grow, and the US today has one of the lowest real rates among G10 countries (Exhibit 2).

Exhibit 2: G10 real yields

Will other central banks follow suit and place a greater emphasis on real yields? Maybe. The European Central Bank (ECB) has discussed the notion, but we doubt the governing council, which has a history of sticking to its inflation target, would ever accept inflation above 2%. The ECB has remained silent about the Fed’s policy and the ensuing euro strength to date. At a news appearance on October 29, ECB President Christine Lagarde barely mentioned the currency, lessening the chances that she would try to talk down the euro as easily as her predecessors did (Exhibit 3). The lack of resistance to the dollar’s drop, as well as a reluctance to follow the Fed down the inflation-inducing road, suggests that the greenback has a long way to fall (Exhibit 4).

Signs point to emerging-market appreciation

We’ve gotten more optimistic about emerging-market currencies, and we expect them to gain faster than developed-market currencies in 2021. Improved economic development expectations, not only in emerging-market economies, but also in many of the export destinations they serve, are driving the shift in view. For example, China has successfully exited pandemic lockdowns and achieved a rapid recovery in economic activity. China’s economy is growing at an ever-increasing rate, and its clout has expanded even more this year, thanks to a new trade agreement signed in November with 14 of its Asian neighbors.

The recovery of emerging markets has not been restricted to Asia. Economic sentiment indicators such as purchasing managers’ indices and economic-momentum indicators imply that activity in developing markets has improved broadly. Furthermore, the recent disclosure of extremely effective vaccines should instill trust in consumers and businesses. Many emerging-market countries won’t get low-cost, easy-to-distribute vaccines until late 2021, but investors are already anticipating a reduction in budgetary stress and better economic development.

Given China’s economic clout, the strength of the Chinese yuan is also crucial for emerging-market currencies. Because China accounts for a rising amount of their trade, a higher Chinese yuan improves the competitiveness of China’s trading partners. Furthermore, the strength of the Chinese yuan (up 8% against the dollar since June) helps emerging-market currencies to increase against the dollar, undermining US assertions that they are purposefully depreciating their currencies. Reduced use of foreign-exchange reserves to purchase dollars – historically a mechanism for managing the currency rate – is one sign that Chinese policymakers are growing more tolerant of a stronger yuan. Given the ever-increasing capital flows into China as a result of the inclusion of Chinese assets in major global bond and equities indexes, China’s willingness to loosen its grip on this market is particularly important.

The political transition in the United States should also help to boost emerging-market currencies. To begin with, Biden’s big-government ideas are perceived as dollar-negative since they will increase budget deficits. Increased regulations, higher corporate taxes, and higher minimum wages are all part of the President-plans elect’s to erode the significant competitive edge that American businesses have enjoyed for several years under President Trump. Second, Biden’s more friendly foreign-policy posture provides comfort to a market that has been worn down by Trump’s confrontational tweets, as well as a boost to the countries that have received the most attention from the White House. While China remains a significant US opponent, and Biden may eventually shift his focus to Russia, Iran, and other countries, we believe he has more pressing domestic issues to address within his first 100 days in office. Emerging-market currencies will benefit the most from a falling US dollar in the run-up to the inauguration and for the next 100 days. Since March, this group has been lagging other hazardous assets, but it is now showing more convincing signs of strength (Exhibit 5).

Euro

The euro is gaining favor among investors. We believe the currency will continue to rise reaching a seven-year high of 1.27 next year, having recently broken above 1.20 per dollar from 1.07 in March. For various reasons, we are bullish:

The euro serves as the “anti-dollar” as the world’s second most traded currency. Many investors who avoid the dollar will naturally switch to euros.
Despite its recent gains, the euro remains significantly undervalued (Exhibit 6). Furthermore, in our purchasing-power-parity model, the rising fair value of the euro is a result of lower inflation in Europe than in the United States, a trend that will likely increase given the Fed’s inflation-tolerant stance.
Europe as a whole has a better balance of payments, with trade surpluses boosted by closer ties to Chinese economic growth (Exhibit 7).

Exhibit 7: European exports closely linked to China

As of October 31, 2020. Bloomberg, PBOC, China General Administration of Customs, RBC GAM, PBOC, PBOC, PBOC, PBOC, PBOC, PBOC, PBOC

Perhaps most importantly, progress has been made in tackling the risks of a Eurozone breakup. Long-term investors, notably the vast US$12 trillion collectively invested by global reserve managers, will want more European debt as a result of the European nations’ solidarity in agreeing to a shared 750 billion-euro recovery fund. Investor demand for a COVID-19-relief bond issued by the European Commission was 14 times greater than the number of bonds released, indicating that these reforms are already having an impact.

The severity of the pandemic will determine how quickly the euro gains. While lockdowns will undoubtedly stifle economic activity and put a strain on government finances, they are being gradually reduced in areas of Europe in response to a decrease in reported infections.

Japanese yen

There are parallels between today’s situation and the years following the global financial crisis of 2008-2009, when the yen rose sharply. One similarity is that deflation has returned to Japan, boosting real yields and making Japanese government bonds more appealing. Japanese investors have been favoring domestic assets due to lower yields abroad (Exhibit 8), and decreased hedging costs have led to higher hedges on foreign investments.

Exhibit 8: Japanese buying fewer overseas assets

The yen’s spike in demand is also a reflection of overseas demand for yen-denominated assets. China is a major buyer of Japanese debt, and this reserve-diversification flow away from the US dollar could provide the yen with long-term support.

The Japanese monetary and fiscal regime under new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will be crucial in the coming year, and we will be looking for any policy changes because these measures were major drivers of yen weakening during the Abe government. We’re also waiting to see how relations between Japan and the United States develop after Biden’s inauguration in January. We believe that capital inflows will continue to boost the yen, and that it will appreciate to 99 per dollar in the coming year.

British pound

Finally. Hopefully, after four and a half years, the deadline is real this time. In any case, the Brexit crisis will be resolved in the few weeks remaining before the December 31 deadline. The pound has risen in tandem with these reports, aided by the weakening of the US dollar, and is reflecting greater confidence than UK equities, implying that the pound is overvalued (Exhibit 9). Even if the UK and EU reach an agreement, we remain skeptical about the pound’s prospects for appreciation.

Exhibit 9: FX market is optmistic on sterling

The truth is that the pound has very few redeeming qualities. Although the United Kingdom may grow rapidly in 2021 in absolute terms, its underperformance in 2020 was so severe that the country is still on track to lag behind most of its peers in terms of the timing of its return to economic normalcy, a dynamic exacerbated by Chancellor Sunak’s decision to unwind pandemic-related fiscal spending in late November. This increases the likelihood that the Bank of England will carry out its promise to implement negative interest rates next year. Additional political drama is expected in the coming year, as Scottish elections raise the prospect of the country’s secession from the United Kingdom, should another referendum be held. The pound is expected to stay at 1.33 for the next 12 months, weakening against other currencies as the US dollar falls.

Canadian dollar

This year, we have been more bullish on the Canadian currency, believing that the high in the US dollar had passed once the March safe-haven flows receded. While investors have began to buy the Canadian dollar as a result of our views, we do not believe that the currency’s recent rise represents this newfound optimism. The better forecast for the loonie reflects the fact that the US dollar is weakening and global equities are rising, two factors that are more relevant to the Canadian dollar than commodities or interest rates (Exhibit 10). Investors are pointing out that Canada is better positioned than many other countries to give the budgetary support needed to strengthen the domestic economy in the aftermath of the pandemic. Furthermore, Canada has pre-ordered more immunizations per capita than any other developed country (Exhibit 11), implying that once those doses are provided, the economy will recover faster. In a universal health-care system, that goal may also be easier to do than in the largely private US system. Given the economy’s greater sensitivity to global growth, the licensing of COVID-19 vaccinations is critical. Finally, when pent-up immigration materializes after borders are reopened, a return to normal may result in greater population increase in the years ahead, helping to shore up the economic growth rate.

Exhibit 11: Vaccine supply available*

Note: *Through 2021, including advanced purchases and other purchase options. *Each person usually receives two doses. As of November 30, 2020 RBC GAM, RBC Goldman Sachs

While some argue that lower crude oil prices are a drag on the Canadian economy, we believe this is overstated. Yes, the oil patch is still crucial to the Canadian economy, but not nearly as much as it once was. Over the last five years, oil extraction as a percentage of GDP has fallen to 2% from 6%, and the energy sector’s share of business investment has also fallen (Exhibit 12). After being forced to pivot, western provinces are now eager to join the global race to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, and political support for hydrogen and natural gas as western provinces’ saviors is growing. The province of Alberta presented a study in October outlining a strategy for substantial investments, incentives, and collaborations to reposition the economy and capitalize on new prospects in this field. In addition, non-energy goods such as metals, lumber, and wheat account for approximately the same weight in Canada’s exports as oil. Prices for these exports have risen significantly in recent months. Lumber prices, for example, rose dramatically throughout the summer, while wheat futures traded at levels not seen in six years this fall.

Exhibit 12: Oil is now a smaller share of Canadian economy

The fact that many Canadian-dollar negatives are being ignored by investors continues to worry us about the prospects for the Canadian currency. These are largely domestic issues that were formerly a source of concern but are now being minimized. Negative press surrounding Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s ties to a foundation, as well as his government’s efforts to bury what many are calling a scandal, have mostly gone unnoticed outside of Canada. Another source of concern is high consumer leverage, with household debt exceeding the country’s yearly economic output. Lower borrowing costs and pandemic-related income support have, however, put these economic risks on hold. Personal bankruptcies decreased by 15% and corporate bankruptcies decreased by 19% year over year, despite rising unemployment and springtime lockdowns. A third source of concern is the country’s balance of payments, which has been plagued by trade deficits and direct investment outflows for the past decade (Exhibit 13). Foreign purchases of Canadian stocks and bonds have placed this structural issue to the back burner for the time being.

Exhibit 13: Canada basic balance of payments

We are still cautiously optimistic about the loonie, expecting it to increase to 1.27 per US dollar from its current level of 1.31. During a broad U.S. dollar depreciation, however, several Canadian-specific issues may prevent the currency from rising as much as the euro, yen, or emerging-market currencies.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we foresee a steady decrease in the US dollar in 2021 as structural headwinds take precedence over short-term factors that have delayed the greenback’s decline in the previous year. The United States’ twin deficits and the Federal Reserve’s goal to raise inflation, along with economic and political improvements as well as unusually favorable financial circumstances abroad, could consolidate the dollar’s downward trajectory. The euro, yen, and loonie are expected to surpass the British pound next year, allowing emerging-market currencies to thrive.

Will the US dollar plummet?

The dollar’s demise is still a long way off. Only the likelihood of greater inflation looks credible among the preconditions required to induce a collapse. Because the United States is such an important customer, foreign exporters such as China and Japan do not want the dollar to fall. Even if the US had to renegotiate or default on some of its debt obligations, there is no evidence that the rest of the world would allow the dollar to collapse and risk contagion.

Inflation favours whom?

Inflation is defined as an increase in the price of goods and services that results in a decrease in the buying power of money.
Depending on the conditions, inflation might benefit both borrowers and lenders.
Prices can be directly affected by the money supply; prices may rise as the money supply rises, assuming no change in economic activity.
Borrowers gain from inflation because they may repay lenders with money that is worth less than it was when they borrowed it.
When prices rise as a result of inflation, demand for borrowing rises, resulting in higher interest rates, which benefit lenders.