“Deflation concerns analysts because a decline in the price of goods can cause consumers to delay purchases in the hope of further price falls, putting pressure on the broader economy.”
Should read: Inflation concerns analysts because an increase in the price of goods can cause consumers to stop purchasing because they can’t afford to anymore, putting pressure on the broader economy.
With the drop in the price of oil, you would expect that prices of goods would be falling, but on the whole that’s not what I’m seeing (although I have seen some things come down in price). Although I don’t buy junk food, helping my child with an assignment alerted me to the fact that almost the whole of the junk food aisle is owned by one company: Pepsico. They own Doritos, Tostitos, Lays…..and on and on. If fewer people are buying their products, they just “up” the price for the ones who do, which will work for awhile, but not in the long run.
These companies are buying back their own stocks, raising prices while their cost of production is actually down, handing out huge bonuses, cashing out their stock options. I say, “To Hell with them.”
Where you can, just stop buying their products and force their hand. Deflation might make some people wait for lower prices, but inflation just makes people stop. Which would they prefer?
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