Deflation
U.S. inflation still no worry - Fed's Broaddus
In a speech on Monday 15 December Richmond Fed president Alfred Broaddus said a short-term rise in inflation would be nothing to worry about and the prospects of deflation were lower than a few months ago. "Accommodative monetary policy could mean, could…
BoJ expects deflation to continue into 2005
In its twice-yearly economic report released Friday the Bank of Japan said that it expects deflation to continue through to March 2005, according to AFX Asia. "Consumer prices are forecast to continue posting small declines in this and next fiscal year …
Fukui chief vows to fight deflation
Toshihiko Fukui, governor of the Bank of Japan, said on Tuesday 28 October that he sees no immediate end to Japan's deflation problem, according to AFP, but he pledged to continue the struggle with high levels of liquidity. "Just because we have a…
Koizumi aide raps BOJ for deflation failure
Former vice-minister for international affairs at Japan's finance ministry Haruhiko Kuroda on Sunday 26 October launched a strong attack on the Bank of Japan (BOJ) for failing to perform its legal duty of halting deflation, according to The Business…
Poole on Economic Growth & the Real Interest Rate
In a speech on 'Economic Growth and the Real Rate of Interest' given on 14 October, William Poole of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis said his best guess is that the current stance of policy makes adequate allowance offsetting the risk that the…
Alan Greenspan defends worries about deflation
Opening a two-day conference on monetary policy sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Alan Greenspan said on Friday 29 August that the Fed was right to worry about deflation even though the threat was remote as uncertainty remained "the…
Perspectives on deflation
In this issue we present a variety of views on the threat of deflation. Here we offer a summary and our own conclusion.
Deflation holds no terrors for Hong Kong
In the first of a three-part feature, Tony Latter, former deputy chief executive at the HKMA, cites Hong Kong's experience to argue that mild deflation may not be too injurious.
Why deflation is different
The consequences of deflation are much worse than mere inflation in reverse, argue Thomas Cargill and Elliot Parker.
Kenneth Rogoff - Escape from global deflation
In an article published in the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Kenneth Rogoff of the IMF said the odds of global deflation are not high, but if it were to set in, the world's central banks have the tools needed to address the problem. The path out, however, is…
RBA statement on the conduct of monetary policy
Second statement on the conduct of monetary policy from the Treasurer and the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, July 2003. The statement is designed to continue to foster a better understanding, both in Australia and overseas, of the nature of…
Interview with Chicago Fed chief Michael Moskow
The U.S. economy is poised to pick up speed in the second half of the year and into 2004, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President Michael Moskow said late Friday 25 July in an interview with YSA Today. Moskow says the threat of deflation is 'very…
Japan should help guide yuan revaluation policy
This article in the Asahi Shimbun looks at the drive for revaluation of China's yuan, saying it first began in Japan where cheap imports from China are blamed for making domestic deflation worse. Japan needs an effective diplomatic strategy to influence…
ECB's Issing - No risk of inflation or deflation
Neither deflation nor inflation present risks for the eurozone economy at the moment. That was the assessment of Otmar Issing on Wednesday 23 July, according to Reuters, but if deflationary concerns emerge the ECB is ready to take various preventive…
Bernanke: Fed could cut rates to zero
In his speech to a University audience on Wednesday 23 July, Reuters reports that Ben Bernanke declared that the Federal Reserve was ready to keep short-term interest rates low indefinitely - even cutting them to zero - to jumpstart the economy and ward…
'Absurd criteria for new EU members'
An article in the Financial Times says that, fortunately, such a disastrous scenario as a deflationary spiral in the eurozone is unlikely. But that is not true of the problems that low or negative inflation within the eurozone could pose for the…
"Take a razor to the debate on deflation"
An article published in the Financial Times asks how deflationary panic can be averted and suggests that a little deflation would be far from catastrophic in any case.
New Bank of England governor speaks of his pride
On the eve of taking over as Governor of the Bank of England, Mervyn King spoke to The Times about his personal approach to the role, filling the shoes of Sir Edward George and crucial issues facing the financial sector, including the prospect of…
Deflation fears as c bankers eye global pick-up
The annual meeting of the Bank for International Settlements kicked off on Sunday 29 June with central bankers predicting a "gradual sluggish pick-up across the world moving into next year" as outgoing Bank of England Governor Sir Edward George said,…
BofE's George shrugs off fears of deflation
In an appearance before the Treasury select committee on Tuesday outgoing governor of the Bank of England Edward George said there was an "extremely" low risk of deflation in the UK and the US, acording to the Independent newspaper. He described the risk…
BoJ Monetary Policy minutes, 30 April
Minutes of the Bank of Japan's Monetary Policy Meeting on 30 April 2003, released 16 June. The minutes showed at least two of the BoJ's nine policy board members favour the introduction of a "reference rate of inflation" to halt deflation.
Bundesbank report reassures over deflation fears
In its June monthly report the Bundesbank acknowledged deflationary risk does exist, Reuters reports, but said that there was no sign it would turn into a damaging reality.
Germany faces small deflation risk Bundesbank says
The Bundesbank said in its June monthly report published on Monday 23 June that there was only a "small" risk of deflation in Germany and no "acute" signs of deflation exist at present, according to a report by Bloomberg.
Minneapolis Fed president upbeat about economy
Gary Stern of the Minneapolis Fed said he thinks there is a low probability of deflation in the US, but would not rule it out, according to Associated Press. The problem in Japan, he said, is inadequate growth of the money supply and allocation of too…