In recent decades, monetary policy has become an increasingly important tool for controlling inflation in the United States. This article will provide an overview of the impact of monetary policy on inflation, along with a macroeconomic perspective and actionable guides.
Monetary policy is the use of central bank or government measures to control the supply of money in an economy and thus, the level of inflation. The Federal Reserve, the central bank of the United States, uses monetary policy to target a specific rate of inflation. One of the main tools used by the Fed to achieve this goal is open market operations, which refer to the buying of Treasury securities, mortgage-backed securities, and other assets in order to inject money into the economy.
The macroeconomic perspective of the effects of monetary policy on inflation include the following:
•An Increase in Money Supply – An increase in the money supply can lead to higher inflation and lower interest rates, as the central bank is buying a large amount of assets from the market and releasing an increased amount of currency into circulation.
•An Increase in Interest Rates – An increase in interest rates can lead to higher inflation as it causes money to become more expensive for businesses and consumers, thereby resulting in increased costs.
•A Tightening of Money Supply – A decrease in the money supply can lead to lower inflation and a rise in interest rates, as the central bank is selling a large amount of assets from the market and withdrawing currency from circulation.
The actionable guides to the effects of monetary policy on inflation include the following:
•Understand the trends – Monitor the movements of the Fed’s balance sheet and open market operations to understand the impact of current policies on inflation and to make informed decisions regarding investments.
•Invest in inflation-protected securities – Invest in inflation-protected securities such as TIPS (Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities) or I Bonds (inflation-indexed bonds) to protect from the effects of inflation.
•Diversify investments – Make sure to diversify investments across different asset classes to minimize the risk of loss.
•Watch for potential changes – Pay attention to potential changes to the Money Supply that could have an effect on inflation.
•Have a backup plan – Have a plan in place just in case the central bank makes unexpected changes to monetary policy that may have unintended consequences.
The impact of monetary policy on inflation can be complex and can have far-reaching effects on the economy. Taking the time to understand this important macroeconomic phenomenon is key to making informed investment decisions and protecting against risk.
To help you put these research findings and actionable guides into investment action, here are some helpful online resources:
•U.S. Treasury: https://www.treasury.gov/
•Federal Reserve: https://www.federalreserve.gov/
•Investopedia: https://www.investopedia.com/
•Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/
•InvestmentNews: https://www.investmentnews.com/
•MoneyGuidePro: https://www.moneyguidepro.com/
By taking the time to research and understand how monetary policy impacts inflation, you can make more informed and profitable decisions regarding investments.
For a concrete example, let’s look at the Federal Reserve’s decision to reduce the federal funds rate to 0-.50% in March of 2020. This unprecedented decision was made in an effort to protect the economy from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. While the initial effect of this rate reduction was an increase in inflation, it has since stabilized. Additionally, this policy change had the effect of strengthening the U.S. dollar as investors sought out “safe haven” assets. This is just one example of how monetary policy can have a direct impact on inflation and how investors can take advantage of such changes.
