Inflation · 通货膨胀
| English | 中文 | Pinyin · 拼音 |
|---|---|---|
| inflation/ɪnˈfleɪʃn/ | 通货膨胀 | tōng huò péng zhàng |
| general price level/ˈdʒenərəl praɪs ˈlevl/ | 一般物价水平 | yì bān wù jià shuǐ píng |
| Consumer Price Index/kənˈsuːmə praɪs ˈɪndeks/ | 消费者价格指数 | xiāo fèi zhě jià gé zhǐ shù |
| demand-pull/dɪˈmænd pʊl/ | 需求拉动 | xū qiú lā dòng |
| cost-push/kɒst pʊʃ/ | 成本推动 | chéng běn tuī dòng |
| savings/ˈseɪvɪŋz/ | 储蓄 | chǔ xù |
| deflation/diːˈfleɪʃn/ | 通货紧缩 | tōng huò jǐn suō |
When money buys less each year
- A loaf that cost a little last year costs a little more this year. Multiply that across everything, every year, and you have inflation 通货膨胀.
- It quietly eats away at what money is worth.
当钱每年买得更少时
- 一条去年花一点的面包今年花多一点。把它跨越一切、每年相乘,你就有了通货膨胀(inflation)。
- 它悄悄地侵蚀钱的价值。
Inflation is: · 通货膨胀是:
Inflation is a sustained rise in the overall price level. · 通货膨胀是总体价格水平的持续上升。
The CPI rises from 100 to 105 over a year. What is the inflation rate (%)? · CPI 在一年内从 100 上升到 105。通货膨胀率(%)是多少?
(105 − 100) / 100 × 100 = 5%. · (105 − 100) / 100 × 100 = 5%。
Inflation is commonly measured using the Consumer Price ______. · 通货膨胀通常用消费者价格______衡量。
The CPI tracks a basket of typical goods. · CPI 追踪一篮子典型物品。
What inflation is
- Inflation = a sustained rise in the general price level 一般物价水平.
- It is measured by the Consumer Price Index 消费者价格指数 (CPI), which tracks the price of a typical "basket" of goods.
Inflation has two main causes: demand-pull and cost-push
通货膨胀是什么
- 通货膨胀 = 总体价格水平(general price level)的持续上升。
- 它由消费者价格指数(Consumer Price Index,CPI)衡量,该指数追踪一个典型"篮子"物品的价格。
通货膨胀有两个主要原因:需求拉动和成本推动
Demand-pull inflation · 需求拉动的通货膨胀
When aggregate demand rises faster than supply, the price level is pulled up — that is inflation. Push demand and watch prices climb. · 当总需求上升快于供给时,价格水平被拉高——这就是通货膨胀。推高需求,看价格攀升。
Inflation caused by rising wages and raw-material costs is: · 由上升的工资和原材料成本造成的通货膨胀是:
Rising costs push prices up — cost-push inflation. · 上升的成本把价格往上推——成本推动型通货膨胀。
Two causes
- Demand-pull 需求拉动: demand grows faster than supply, pulling prices up.
- Cost-push 成本推动: rising costs (wages, raw materials) push prices up.
Worked example. If the CPI rises from 100 to 104 over a year, inflation is 4%. Prices, on average, are 4% higher than a year ago.
两个原因
- 需求拉动(demand-pull):需求增长快于供给,把价格往上拉。
- 成本推动(cost-push):上升的成本(工资、原材料)把价格往上推。
例题。 如果 CPI 在一年内从 100 上升到 104,通货膨胀是 4%。价格平均比一年前高 4%。
If inflation falls from 5% to 2%, prices are still rising. · 如果通货膨胀从 5% 降到 2%,价格仍在上升。
Prices rise more slowly; they only fall when inflation is negative. · 价格上升得更慢;它们只在通货膨胀为负时下降。
Why inflation matters
- It erodes savings 储蓄 and fixed incomes, and creates uncertainty for firms.
- A little (low, steady) inflation is normal; high inflation is damaging, and falling prices (deflation 通货紧缩) can be worse.
Inflation falling ≠ prices falling. If inflation drops from 5% to 2%, prices are still rising — just more slowly. Prices only fall when inflation goes negative (deflation).
为什么通货膨胀重要
- 它侵蚀储蓄和固定收入,并为企业制造不确定性。
- 一点(低的、稳定的)通货膨胀是正常的;高通货膨胀是有害的,而下降的价格(通货紧缩)能更糟。
通货膨胀下降 ≠ 价格下降。 如果通货膨胀从 5% 降到 2%,价格仍在上升——只是更慢。价格只在通货膨胀变负(通货紧缩)时下降。
You've got it
- inflation = a sustained rise in the general price level, measured by the CPI
- causes: demand-pull (too much demand) and cost-push (rising costs)
- it erodes savings and fixed incomes; deflation (falling prices) can be worse
你掌握了
- 通货膨胀 = 总体价格水平的持续上升,由 CPI 衡量
- 原因:需求拉动(太多需求)和成本推动(上升的成本)
- 它侵蚀储蓄和固定收入;通货紧缩(下降的价格)能更糟