Inflation is defined as a steady and persistent
increase in the general level of prices. It's the rate
at which money loses its ability to buy things
The Central Statistics Office employs 94 part
time price collectors who collect about 53,000
prices in 84 locations throughout the country
on the second Tuesday of every month
The Consumer Price Index
The official measure of inflation in Ireland.
It measures the price change of goods and
service consumed by all consumers
How is the CPI constructed?
National Average Shopping Basket: is
a selection of the most frequently
purchased goods and services
Household Budget Inquiry: carried out
every five years to ensure index reflects
up-to-date purchasing patterns
Decide on a Base Year and
Find the Prices
Prices in the Current Year
are Collected
Economic Uses
Measures the Rate of Inflation
Indicator of Country's Performance
Used in Wage Negotiations
International Comparison
What Precautions should be
taken when using CPI?
Not a Cost of Living Index
Lags Behind Consumer Trends
Quality Changes
in Products
It's an Index of the
Average Consumer
What Factors Cause Inflation?
Demand Pull Factors: if
aggregate demand is greater
than aggregate supply, prices
will be forced upwards
"Too much money
chasing too few goods"
Cost Pull Factors: if a company experiences
a cost increase in its cost of production, it
will probably pass on this increase by
raising selling price of final good
Increase in Wages
Increase in commercial rates
Imported Inflation: if imported raw
materials rise in price, so does the cost of
production for manufacturers, so they
increase the selling price of finished goods
What Problems are Caused
by High Inflation?
Lower Standard of Living
Wage Demands Increase
Increase in Unemployment
Loss of International Competitiveness
Fixed Income Holders lose out
What Remedies are Available?
Fiscal Policy (government): increasing direct
taxation would reduce demand, as consumers
could have less disposable income
Monetary Policy (bank): reducing the amount
of credit available would reduce demand;
increasing rate of interest reduces demand
for loans, hence discourage investment
Deflation happens when
there is a general decrease
in average level of prices
Benefits of Price Stability
Consumers will tend to
spend, contributing to
economic growth
Gov. revenue could
increase with more
taxes being collected