Inflation is a measure of the increase in the average price level of goods and services in an economy over time. It is a persistent rise in the general level of prices and can be expressed as an annual percentage rate of change. The most commonly used measure of inflation is the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which tracks the prices of a basket of goods and services that consumers typically purchase.
The CPI calculates the percentage change in prices by comparing the cost of the basket of goods and services in the current period to the cost of the same basket of goods and services in a base period. The base period is usually a past year, and the current period is the current year.
Inflation can significantly impact the housing market, influencing both demand for housing and the cost of purchasing or building a home. Here are some ways inflation can affect the housing market:
What causes inflation?
A prolonged upward trend in the average price of goods and services over time is called inflation. Inflation may result from a variety of sources, including
Increase in the money supply. The value of money declines, and prices rise when there is an imbalance between the number of goods and services available and the amount of money in circulation in the economy. Consumers now have more money to spend, but there need to be more products and services to satisfy the increasing demand, which drives up the cost of goods and services.
Increase in demand. Prices may increase to reflect an increase in demand for products and services. A rise in exports, government spending, or consumer spending may cause this.
Decrease in supply. Prices may increase to reflect a reduction in the availability of products and services. This could occur if supply chain hiccups, natural disasters, or other situations make products and services less accessible.
Increase in production costs. Businesses may raise their prices to preserve their profit margins if the cost of producing products and services rises, for example, due to an increase in labor or raw material expenses.
Expectations of future inflation. Inflation may spiral out of control if consumers and companies change their behavior to reflect their expectations that it will continue. For example, they may demand higher pay or raise prices.
Inflation leads to higher mortgage rates
The rate of economic inflation is one of several variables that affect mortgage rates. Inflation may affect mortgage rates in the following ways:
The number of goods and services that may be purchased with a certain amount of money falls as buying power of the currency declines as inflation increases. Lenders may demand higher interest rates due to this to make up for the declining worth of money over time. Due to the greater danger that inflation would eventually reduce the loan’s value, lenders may raise the interest rates they charge on mortgages as inflation increases.
Also, the Federal Reserve may boost interest rates in response to inflation to slow down the economy and ease inflationary pressures. Mortgage rates may increase due to the Federal Reserve raising interest rates since lenders will have to pay more to borrow money from the Federal Reserve.
It’s important to monitor inflation levels and work to maintain a good credit score so you can secure the best possible mortgage rates. Here are some websites that can help check your credit score.
- AnnualCreditReport.com. The only official website that the federal government has approved to offer free credit reports is this one. Each of the three major credit bureaus is required to provide you with one free credit report every year.
- Credit Karma. You can keep an eye on both your credit reports and scores using this free online service. Also, it offers tailored advice to assist you in enhancing your credit.
- Credit Sesame. This is yet another free tool that lets you keep tabs on your credit ratings and offers tailored advice on how to increase your credit score.
- Discover Credit Scorecard. Anybody can check their FICO credit score using this free Discover service, not only Discover cardholders.
Inflation leads to higher asset prices
If investors attempt to preserve the value of their holdings in the face of rising costs, inflation can result in higher asset values. Inflation can increase the value of real estate assets since land and buildings tend to hold their value better than currency in an inflationary environment. In addition, rising inflation can lead to higher demand for real estate as a hedge against inflation, which can drive up prices.
Inflation causes a rise in construction costs
Construction costs may increase due to inflation since labor and raw material costs rise in reaction to general economic inflation. The following are some ways that inflation may affect construction costs:
Inflation can lead to higher prices for raw materials, such as lumber, steel, and cement, which are vital inputs in construction projects. These higher costs can make construction projects more expensive since builders must pay more for the materials they need to complete their projects.
As a result of workers maybe demanding greater compensation in reaction to price increases in the larger economy, inflation can also result in increased labor expenses. Because builders will have to pay more for the people they require to finish their projects, these higher labor expenses might increase the cost of building projects.
Higher interest rates brought on by inflation may make it more expensive for builders to fund their projects. Also, this may result in consumers paying higher mortgage rates, which may result in less demand for new development initiatives.
Inflation and the price of land may impact the cost of new building projects. Construction costs may increase overall if builders pay more for the land they require to finish their projects due to rising land prices brought on by inflation.
Inflation can have complex and varied effects on the housing market. The specific impact will depend on various factors, including the inflation’s severity and the housing market’s overall state.