Richard S. Warr, North Carolina State University
Stock markets have been on a wild ride recently, plunging one day and then soaring the next. Since its peak in late January, the Standard & Poor’s 500 index has declined more than 10 percent, signaling a market “correction” beyond just a temporary blip.
Pundits have offered many reasons for the biggest stock market swoon in two years. One of the most frequently blamed culprits is inflation, which loosely means an increase in consumer prices over time.
What would prompt something so seemingly banal to send investors into a state of craziness and even panic? A closer look at inflation – a topic I’ve studied closely – and how it affects markets offers some answers. It also hints that an economic slowdown is closer than you may think.
What is inflation?
Inflation is defined as the rate of change in the prices of everything from
Why Do Stock Markets Hate Inflation
With a lot of people working hard to pay their bills, and often having no money left over for personal rewards, let alone substantial savings, putting extra money into savings can be a tough task to fulfil. However, it’s important to remember that even the tiniest amount — even if it’s $5 a month — will all eventually add up, and be better than nothing. Here are 4 tips to get you started on a better savings path. Get Out of Any Debt First There is no point planning to put money into your savings if you have a backlog of debt, no matter how small. Although any form of savings is a positive, it’s much better to use any extra money to clear debt in order to get straight with your finances and avoid paying extra due to interest charges. As soon as debt is cleared, the monthly amount you usually pay in minimum debt payments can then be a bonus for your savings pot. If any de 4 Tips for Increasing Your Personal Savings
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