1 of 5 ... What is inflation? Inflation is a loss of purchasing power over time, meaning your dollar will not go as far tomorrow as it did today. It is typically expressed as the annual change in prices for everyday goods and services such as food, furniture, apparel, transportation and toys. https://www.nytimes.com/article/inflation-definition.html

2 of 5 ... What causes inflation? It can be the result of rising consumer demand. But inflation can also rise and fall based on developments that have little to do with economic conditions, such as limited oil production and supply chain problems. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/16/business/oil-production-prices.html https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/12/05/business/economy/supply-chain.html

3 of 5 ... Is inflation bad? It depends on the circumstances. Fast price increases spell trouble, but moderate price gains can lead to higher wages and job growth. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/05/business/economy/wages-inflation.html

4 of 5 ... How does inflation affect the poor? Inflation can be especially hard to shoulder for poor households because they spend a bigger chunk of their budgets on necessities like food, housing and gas. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/07/business/pandemic-savings.html

5 of 5 ... Can inflation affect the stock market? Rapid inflation typically spells trouble for stocks. Financial assets in general have historically fared badly during inflation booms, while tangible assets like houses have held their value better. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/13/business/stocks-inflation-stagflation.html