What is Inflation, Measurement, Types and Effects of Inflation.

One of the favourite topics from Indian Economy in Prelims and Mains is Inflation. Since inflation affects every
citizen of the country, however rich or poor, it is a crucial determinant of a countrys economic and social
progress.
Definition of Inflation
The simplest definition is Inflation is a rise in the general level of prices. By the term general, we mean if the
price of one good has gone up it is not inflation, it is inflation only if the prices of most goods have gone up. The
opposite of inflation is deflation which means a fall in the general level of prices.
How is Inflation Measured in India
In India, inflation is measured on two price indices, viz, wholesale price index (WPI) and consumer price index
(CPI). WPI measures price rise or inflation at the level of seller or retailer who buy commodities in bulk or whole
sale. CPI is also called retail inflation since it measures inflation at the retail or consumer level. In India, WPI is
the basis for determining the inflation of the economy.
About Wholesale Price Index (WPI)
WPI is measured on weekly basis. The first index of wholesale prices commenced in India for the week January
10, 1942. The base year of WPI is revised periodically. Till date, 5 revisions have take place. The current WPI
base year is 2004-05 based on prices of 670 commodities.
Recently, a Working Group was set up under chairmanship of Prof. Abhijit Sen to recommend new series of
WPI. The committee recommendations have been accepted by the govt.
For determining WPI, commodities are divided into three categories Primary Articles (102 items), Fuel & Power
(19 items), and Manufactured Products (555 items). As you can see, the weight assigned to manufacturing is
highest at 82% followed by primary articles like fruits and vegetables.
About Consumer Price Index (CPI)
Unlike WPI, there is not a single measure of CPI. In India, four CPI indices are used to determine inflation at the
consumer level. These are: CPI-IW (Industrial Worker), CPI-UNME (Urban Non-Manual Employees), CPI-AL
(Agricultural Labourers), and CPI-RL (Rural Labourers).
Unlike the WPI, the new series of CPI based on recommendations of Abhijit Sen committee assigns the highest
weight to primary articles like food, beverages and tobacco (49%).
Causes of Inflation
There are two main causes of inflation: cost push and demand pull.
Cost-Push Inflation occurs when general prices of commodities increases due to increase in production cost.
Demand-Pull Inflation is the result of mismatch between demand and supply. Either the demand increases over
the same level of supply or the supply decreases with the same level of demand.
Types of Inflation
Inflation may be classified into three main categories.
a. Low Inflation
Such inflation is slow and on predictable lines which might be called small or gradual. It is sometimes also called
creeping inflation. For example monthly inflation that increases in single digits like 2.3%, 2.8%, 3.2%, 3.5%
etc.
b. Galloping Inflation

This is very high inflation running in double or triple digits like 20%, 100% or 200% a year. Such kind of inflation
was observed in certain Latin American countries like Argentina.
c. Hyper Inflation
This form of inflation is large and accelerating which might have annual rates in million or even trillion. Such
rate of inflation was recently observed in Zimbabwe. In such inflation not only range of increase is very large but
the increase takes place in a very short span of time and prices shoot up overnight.
Effects of Inflation
Inflation has multi-dimensional effects on an economy. Effects of inflation on different sectors and segments is
explained below.
1. On Creditors and Debtors
Inflation redistributes wealth from creditors to debtors i.e. lenders suffer and borrowers benefit from inflation. This
is true assuming that salaries would also increase due to price rise. This results in repaying the same amount of
money with extra money at hand due to wage hike or increase in Dearness Allowance (DA for government
employees).
2. On Aggregate Demand
Rising prices usually results in higher demand as it comparatively lower supply. However if inflation results from
higher input costs (cost-push), aggregate may demand may or may not increase comparative to price rise.
3. On Investment
Inflation increases the investment in an economy in the short run as it encourages producers to expand or
increase production. Also, in the short run, higher the inflation lower is the cost of loan.
4. On Saving
In the short run, rising prices encourages people to deposit cash in hand with banks as money loses value so
holding it does not much sense. However in the long run, rising prices depletes the saving rate in an economy.
5. On Exchange Rate
Rising prices generally leads to depreciation of the currency which implies that the currency loses its exchange
value in front of a foreign currency. But this is relative to the pressure on the foreign currency against which the
exchange rate is compared. For instance, from 2013 till mid-2014, even though there was relatively high inflation
in India, still it did not lose much value vis-a-vis the US dollar since the dollar was also under inflationary
pressure.
6. On Export
With inflation, exportable items of an economy gain competitive prices in the world market. This boost a countrys
exports. This happens since value of currency falls so it makes it cheaper for importing countries to buy the
exporting countries produce.
7. On Imports
Inflation gives an economy advantage of lower imports and import-substitution as foreign goods become costlier.
8. On Wages
Inflation increases the nominal or face value of the wages while its real value falls. Simply put, even though
wages may increase to offset inflation the actual value of money falls