Business
Fact-checked

At WiseGEEK, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What is Demand-Pull Inflation?

Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick

There really can be too much of a good thing when it comes to economic growth, and the concept of demand-pull inflation bears that out. Demand-pull inflation explains why certain items or services rise in price even when they appear to be in plentiful supply. A booming economy means that factories are hiring more workers and those workers are producing more products. However, these additional employees are also earning more money and want to spend that money on products they may not have able to afford while unemployed or underemployed. Because the demand for these products rises but the supply cannot be increased fast enough to meet it, the price of the products often rises. This price rise during seemingly strong economic times is called demand-pull inflation by those who ascribe to the Keynesian economics model.

Demand-pull inflation is often described by many sources as "too much money chasing too few goods," which is a very apt description of the situation. When unemployment rates are low, which is usually seen as a positive step for a nation's economy, the number of people earning money increases. These workers are often responsible for producing consumer goods in high demand, such as popular toys or electronic devices or processed foods. Ironically, the workers who struggle to meet demand for their own products are also consumers who create higher demands for other goods and services. Even though the supply of a product may be as high as ever, the increased demand for it by a larger pool of workers creates demand-pull inflation.

John Maynard Keynes.
John Maynard Keynes.

Fortunately for consumers, the effects of demand-pull inflation are generally short-term. Once demand for a popular toy dies down after a holiday season, for example, the company has time to replenish the supply and the price for that toy generally comes down. If the unemployment rate should rise, then demand for a product may fall because fewer consumers can now afford to buy it. During times of demand-pull inflation, aggregate supply is rarely low, just unable to keep pace with aggregate demand caused by more spending by employed workers.

For the consumer, inflation lowers the value of currency, as the cost of what they buy goes up.
For the consumer, inflation lowers the value of currency, as the cost of what they buy goes up.

Demand-pull inflation is often seen as the flip side of cost-pull inflation, which creates higher prices because of an increase in the cost of raw materials or labor. Since the production costs of the goods are not generally a factor in demand-pull inflation, the economy usually adjusts quickly after the spike in consumer demand has ended. The conditions which cause cost-pull inflation, on the other hand, may last for months or even years if the labor or material issues are not addressed successfully. Demand-pull inflation is a problem many of the world's economies wouldn't mind experiencing, since it only occurs when the gross national product (GNP) is rising and the employment rate is falling.

Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick

A regular WiseGEEK contributor, Michael enjoys doing research in order to satisfy his wide-ranging curiosity about a variety of arcane topics. Before becoming a professional writer, Michael worked as an English tutor, poet, voice-over artist, and DJ.

Learn more...
Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick

A regular WiseGEEK contributor, Michael enjoys doing research in order to satisfy his wide-ranging curiosity about a variety of arcane topics. Before becoming a professional writer, Michael worked as an English tutor, poet, voice-over artist, and DJ.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

comfyshoes

BrickBack-Usually when inflation begins to occur many investors begin to invest in gold. Gold investments are usually up when confidence in the economic system is down.

Currently gold is at an all time high and continuing to get higher. This really gives an indication that many expect inflation news to get worse.

Inflation affects your buying power and makes everything much more expensive than it normally would be.

BrickBack

Crispety-I remember those times. I would get solicitations weekly from real estate agents wanting to sell my house for me. It was crazy.

I know that money inflation occurs when the government starts to print more money thus devaluing our currency. When the government prints more money they are creating more debt and make our money worth less or create inflation.

Inflation is really when you get less for your money because your money is not worth what it used to be.

The inflation effects of the 1970 have caused inflation unemployment of over 10% with interest rates of up to 20%.

This made borrowing money for a home or a business nearly impossible because it was just too expensive. Forecasting inflation is not difficult. We currently have market conditions for this to happen in the near future.

Crispety

Unlike demand pull inflation cost push inflation is when the cost of making a product or service has been raised which results in higher prices.

The best example of mild demand pull inflation is usually during the Christmas holiday when there is a new hot toy that everyone has to have. Retailers know people will pay higher prices for theses goods and thus charge higher prices.

Another example of demand pull inflation was during the housing boom when everyone was buying homes and reselling them.

New developments had lines of people looking to be the first to buy the new property that would later sell for top dollar. This speculation raised the housing prices to astronomical levels.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • John Maynard Keynes.
      John Maynard Keynes.
    • For the consumer, inflation lowers the value of currency, as the cost of what they buy goes up.
      By: Vasiliy Koval
      For the consumer, inflation lowers the value of currency, as the cost of what they buy goes up.
    • The Federal Reserve constantly monitors for inflationary risks to the U.S. economy.
      By: qingwa
      The Federal Reserve constantly monitors for inflationary risks to the U.S. economy.
    • An example of a type of inflation would be the increase in price of postage stamps, which in the U.S. went up to 25 cents in 1988 and nearly doubled in price within 27 years.
      By: Blue Moon
      An example of a type of inflation would be the increase in price of postage stamps, which in the U.S. went up to 25 cents in 1988 and nearly doubled in price within 27 years.