The survey suggests that people believe that the inflation rate over the last 12 months is much higher than the CPI rate. When asked about inflation, the median response suggested that prices are increasing at around 4.9 percent a year. Interestingly, this rate is much closer to the RPI inflation rate, which is running at about 4.1 percent.
Going forward, inflation expectations are rising. The median expectation for next year's rate is 4.3 percent, an increase of 1.6 percent compared to a year ago.
Increasing inflation is also beginning to erode confidence in the bank of england. The number of survey participants expressing confidence in the bank is falling, while the number expressing dissatisfaction is rising.
Most wage agreements for 2008 are already settled. In the short run, rising inflationary expectations will not significantly affect wage settlements. The bank of england have a short window of opportunity to reverse the deteriorating inflationary environment and stabilise expectations. However, any delay and next spring wage inflation could begin to pick up.Inflationary expectations should not be too difficult to resolve - a couple of convincing interest rate increases would do the trick.
5 comments:
The boe are living on borrowed time. Once wage increases begin to accelerate, they are in a world of sh1t.
I am surprised that satisfaction levels are so high.
Just watch those satisfaction rates drop as inflation picks up.
The problem I see with satisfaction is that the popular response will be to be dissatisfied if mortgages are deemed more expensive than expected... whereas the intelligent response is to be dissatisfied if rates are too cheap and non-asset inflation is rampant.
Where does this wage increase business come from? We are heading into a recession with unemployment about to skyrocket. How on earth can you demand more cash in that environment.
I've got one word for you:
globalwagearbitrage
Nick
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