The Federal Reserve's balance sheet has undergone significant changes since 2007, reflecting its response to major economic crises. From a modest 0.9 trillion U.S. dollars at the end of 2007, it ballooned to approximately 6.76 trillion U.S. dollars by March 2025. This dramatic expansion, particularly during the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic - both of which resulted in negative annual GDP growth in the U.S. - showcases the Fed's crucial role in stabilizing the economy through expansionary monetary policies. Impact on inflation and interest rates The Fed's expansionary measures, while aimed at stimulating economic growth, have had notable effects on inflation and interest rates. Following the quantitative easing in 2020, inflation in the United States reached eight percent in 2022, the highest since 1991. However, by November 2024, inflation had declined to 2.7 percent. Concurrently, the Federal Reserve implemented a series of interest rate hikes, with the rate peaking at 5.33 percent in August 2023, before the first rate cut since September 2021 occurred in September 2024. Financial implications for the Federal Reserve The expansion of the Fed's balance sheet and subsequent interest rate hikes have had significant financial implications. In 2023, the Fed reported a negative net income of 114.3 billion U.S. dollars, a stark contrast to the 58.84 billion U.S. dollars profit in 2022. This unprecedented shift was primarily due to rapidly rising interest rates, which caused the Fed's interest expenses to soar to over 281 billion U.S. dollars in 2023. Despite this, the Fed's net interest income on securities acquired through open market operations reached a record high of 174.53 billion U.S. dollars in the same year.

This data package includes the underlying data and files to replicate the calculations, charts, and tables presented in Quantity Theory of Money Redux? Will Inflation Be the Legacy of Quantitative Easing?, PIIE Policy Brief 15-7. If you use the data, please cite as: Cline, William R. (2015). Quantity Theory of Money Redux? Will Inflation Be the Legacy of Quantitative Easing?. PIIE Policy Brief 15-7. Peterson Institute for International Economics.

In 2023, Japan had an average inflation rate estimated at 3.21 percent, marking the highest rate of inflation in Japan in almost a decade. However, this figure was still very low compared to most other major economies, such as Japan's fellow G7 members, four of which had inflation rates around six or seven percent in 2023 due to the global inflation crisis. Why is Japan's inflation rate lower? There are a number of contributing factors to Japan's relatively low inflation rate, even during economic crises. Japan eased its Covid restrictions more slowly than most other major economies, this prevented post-pandemic consumer spending that may have driven inflation through supply chain issues caused by higher demand. As the majority of Japan's food and energy comes from overseas, and has done so for decades, the government has mechanisms in place to prevent energy and wheat prices from rising too quickly. Because of this, Japan was able to shield its private sector from many of the negative knock on effects from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which had a significant impact on both sectors globally. Persistent deflation and national debt An additional factor that has eased the impact of inflation on Japan's economy is the fact that it experienced deflation before the pandemic. Deflation has been a persistent problem in Japan since the asset price bubble burst in 1992, and has been symptomatic of Japan's staggering national debt thereafter. For almost 30 years, a combination of quantitative easing, low interest rates (below 0.5 percent since 1995, and at -0.1% since 2016), and a lack of spending due to low wages and an aging population have combined to give Japan the highest national debt in the world in absolute terms, and second-highest debt in relation to its GDP, after Venezuela. Despite this soaring debt, Japan remains the fourth-largest economy in the world, behind the U.S., China, and Germany.

Inflation is generally defined as the continued increase in the average prices of goods and services in a given region. Following the extremely high global inflation experienced in the 1980s and 1990s, global inflation has been relatively stable since the turn of the millennium, usually hovering between three and five percent per year. There was a sharp increase in 2008 due to the global financial crisis now known as the Great Recession, but inflation was fairly stable throughout the 2010s, before the current inflation crisis began in 2021. Recent years Despite the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the global inflation rate fell to 3.26 percent in the pandemic's first year, before rising to 4.66 percent in 2021. This increase came as the impact of supply chain delays began to take more of an effect on consumer prices, before the Russia-Ukraine war exacerbated this further. A series of compounding issues such as rising energy and food prices, fiscal instability in the wake of the pandemic, and consumer insecurity have created a new global recession, and global inflation in 2024 is estimated to have reached 5.76 percent. This is the highest annual increase in inflation since 1996. Venezuela Venezuela is the country with the highest individual inflation rate in the world, forecast at around 200 percent in 2022. While this is figure is over 100 times larger than the global average in most years, it actually marks a decrease in Venezuela's inflation rate, which had peaked at over 65,000 percent in 2018. Between 2016 and 2021, Venezuela experienced hyperinflation due to the government's excessive spending and printing of money in an attempt to curve its already-high inflation rate, and the wave of migrants that left the country resulted in one of the largest refugee crises in recent years. In addition to its economic problems, political instability and foreign sanctions pose further long-term problems for Venezuela. While hyperinflation may be coming to an end, it remains to be seen how much of an impact this will have on the economy, how living standards will change, and how many refugees may return in the coming years.

Inflation Rate in Ghana decreased to 23.10 percent in February from 23.50 percent in January of 2025. This dataset provides - Ghana Inflation Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In January 2025, the UK inflation rate for goods was one percent and five percent for services. Prices for goods accelerated significantly, sharply between in 2021 and 2022 before falling in 2023. By comparison, prices for services initially grew at a more moderate rate, but have also not fallen as quickly. The overall CPI inflation rate for the UK reached a recent high of 11.1 percent in October 2022 and remained in double-figures until April 2023, when it fell to 8.7 percent. As of December 2024, the UK's inflation rate was 2.5 percent, down from 2.6 percent in the previous month. Sectors driving high inflation In late 2024, communication was the sector with the highest inflation rate, with prices increasing by 6.1 percent as of December 2024. During the recent period of high inflation that eased in 2023, food and energy prices were particular high, with housing and energy inflation far higher than in any other sector, peaking at 26.6 percent towards the end of 2022. High food and energy prices since 2021 have been one of the main causes of the cost of living crisis in the UK, especially for low-income households that spend a higher share of their income on these categories. This is likely one of the factors driving increasing food bank usage in the UK, which saw approximately 3.12 million people use a food bank in 2023/24, compared with 1.9 million just before the COVID-19 pandemic. The global inflation crisis The UK has not been alone in suffering rapid price increases since 2021. After the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a series of economic and geopolitical shocks had a dramatic impact on the global economy. A global supply chain crisis failed to meet rising demand in 2021, leading to the beginning of an Inflation Crisis, which was only exacerbated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The war directly influenced the prices of food and energy, as both countries were major exporters of important crops. European imports of hydrocarbons from Russia were also steadily reduced throughout 2022 and 2023, resulting in higher energy prices throughout the year.

As of December 2024, the inflation rate in the European Union was 2.7 percent, with prices rising fastest in Romania, which had an inflation rate of 5.5 percent. By contrast, both Ireland and Italy saw low inflation rates during the same period, with Ireland having the lowest inflation rate in the EU during this month. The rate of inflation in the EU in the October 2022 was higher than at any other time, with the peak prior to 2021 recorded in July 2008 when prices were growing by 4.4 percent year-on-year. Before the recent rises in inflation, price rises in the EU had been kept at relatively low levels, with the inflation rate remaining below three percent between January 2012 and August 2021. Rapid recovery and energy costs driving inflation The reopening of the European economy in 2021 following the sudden shock of COVID-19 in 2020 is behind many of the factors that have caused prices to rise so quickly in 2022. Global supply chains have not yet recovered from production issues, travel restrictions, and workforce problems brought about by the pandemic. Rising energy costs have only served to exacerbate supply problems, particularly with regard to the transport sector, which had the highest inflation rate of any sector in the EU in December 2021. High inflation rates mirrored in the U.S. The high inflation rates seen in Europe have been reflected in other parts of the world. In the United States, for example, the consumer price index reached a 40-year-high of seven percent in December 2021, influenced by many of the same factors driving European inflation. Nevertheless, it is hoped that once these supply chain issues ease, inflation levels will start to fall throughout the course of 2022.

One of the major duties the Bank of England (BoE) is tasked with is keeping inflation rates low and stable. The usual tactic for keeping inflation rates down, and therefore the price of goods and services stable by the Bank of England is through lowering the Bank Rate. Such a measure was used in 2008 during the global recession when the BoE lowered the bank base rate from 5 percent to 0.5 percent. Due to the economic fears surrounding the COVID-19 virus, as of the 19th of March 2020, the bank base rate was set to its lowest ever standing. The issue with lowering interest rates is that there is an end limit as to how low they can go.

Quantitative easing

Quantitative easing is a measure that central banks can use to inject money into the economy to hopefully boost spending and investment. Quantitative easing is the creation of digital money in order to purchase government bonds. By purchasing large amounts of government bonds, the interest rates on those bonds lower. This in turn means that the interest rates offered on loans for the purchasing of mortgages or business loans also lowers, encouraging spending and stimulating the economy.

Large enterprises jump at the opportunity

After the initial stimulus of 200 billion British pounds through quantitative easing in March 2020, the Bank of England announced in June that they would increase the amount by a further one hundred billion British pounds. In March of 2020, the headline flow of borrowing by non-financial industries including construction, transport, real estate and the manufacturing sectors increased significantly.

Inflation Rate in Hungary increased to 5.60 percent in February from 5.50 percent in January of 2025. This dataset provides - Hungary Inflation Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

According to data from August 2024, online prices in the United States slightly decreased compared to the previous year, showing signs that inflationary pressures are gradually easing in many e-commerce segments. For instance, online prices in the electronics category decreased 5.31 percent year-over-year, and computers in particular have seen their online prices decrease nearly 9.7 percent compared to August 2023. While other segments like grocery and personal care are still experiencing online price increases (0.48 percent and 0.9 percent, respectively), inflation in those categories is slowing down compared to the double-digit monthly price increases experienced in those segments in 2022.

Inflation Rate in Lebanon decreased to 15.60 percent in February from 16.10 percent in January of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Lebanon Inflation Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Oil prices stabilize amid easing US inflation, with WTI crude trading just under $68 per barrel. Production adjustments are key in maintaining market balance.

Canada's inflation rate experienced significant fluctuations from 2018 to 2025. Inflation peaked at 8.1 percent in June 2022 before steadily declining to 1.9 percent by January 2025. In response to rising inflation between 2020 and 2022, the Bank of Canada implemented aggressive interest rate hikes. The bank rate reached a maximum of 5.25 percent in July 2023 and remained stable until June 2024. As inflationary pressures eased in the second half of 2024, the central bank reduced interest rates to 3.5 percent in December 2024. This pattern reflected broader global economic trends, with most advanced and emerging economies experiencing similar inflationary challenges and monetary policy adjustments. Global context of inflation and interest rates The Canadian experience aligns with the broader international trend of central banks raising policy rates to combat inflation. Between 2021 and 2023, nearly all advanced and emerging economies increased their central bank rates. However, a shift occurred in the latter half of 2024, with many countries, including Canada, beginning to lower rates. This change suggests a new phase in the global economic cycle and monetary policy approach. Notably, among surveyed countries, Russia maintained the highest interest rate in early 2025, while Japan had the lowest rate. Comparison with the United States The United States experienced a similar trajectory in inflation and interest rates. U.S. inflation peaked at 9.1 percent in June 2022, slightly higher than Canada's peak. The Federal Reserve responded with a series of rate hikes, reaching 5.33 percent in August 2023. This rate remained unchanged until September 2024, when the first cut since September 2021 was implemented. In contrast, Canada's bank rate peaked at 5.25 percent and began decreasing earlier, with cuts in June and July 2024. These differences highlight the nuanced approaches of central banks in managing their respective economies amid global inflationary pressures.

Inflation Rate in Slovenia decreased to 1.60 percent in February from 2 percent in January of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Slovenia Inflation Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

The U.S. federal funds effective rate underwent a dramatic reduction in early 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The rate plummeted from 1.58 percent in February 2020 to 0.65 percent in March, and further decreased to 0.05 percent in April. This sharp reduction, accompanied by the Federal Reserve's quantitative easing program, was implemented to stabilize the economy during the global health crisis. After maintaining historically low rates for nearly two years, the Federal Reserve began a series of rate hikes in early 2022, with the rate moving from 0.33 percent in April 2022 to 5.33 percent in August 2023. The rate remained unchanged for over a year, before the Federal Reserve initiated its first rate cut in nearly three years in September 2024, bringing the rate to 5.13 percent. By December 2024, the rate was cut to 4.48 percent, signaling a shift in monetary policy in the second half of 2024. The first rate cut in 2025 then set the rate at 4.33 percent. What is the federal funds effective rate? The U.S. federal funds effective rate determines the interest rate paid by depository institutions, such as banks and credit unions, that lend reserve balances to other depository institutions overnight. Changing the effective rate in times of crisis is a common way to stimulate the economy, as it has a significant impact on the whole economy, such as economic growth, employment, and inflation. Central bank policy rates The adjustment of interest rates in response to the COVID-19 pandemic was a coordinated global effort. In early 2020, central banks worldwide implemented aggressive monetary easing policies to combat the economic crisis. The U.S. Federal Reserve's dramatic reduction of its federal funds rate - from 1.58 percent in February 2020 to 0.05 percent by April - mirrored similar actions taken by central banks globally. While these low rates remained in place throughout 2021, mounting inflationary pressures led to a synchronized tightening cycle beginning in 2022, with central banks pushing rates to multi-year highs. By mid-2024, as inflation moderated across major economies, central banks began implementing their first rate cuts in several years, with the U.S. Federal Reserve, Bank of England, and European Central Bank all easing monetary policy.

Following the easing of restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic in 2022, inflation rates in many economic sectors in Europe spiked, with the food and non-alcoholic beverages and transport sectors being particularly affected. Additionally, Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the subsequent energy crisis caused a spike in the housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels sector, with the inflation rate in these products reaching 23.2 percent in October 2022. All economic sectors have experienced a significant disinflation during 2023 onwards, as higher interest rates set by the European Central Bank dampen economic activity and slowed prices increase.

Producer Prices In the Euro Area increased 1.80 percent in January of 2025 over the same month in the previous year. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Euro Area Producer Prices Change - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Inflation Rate in Uruguay increased to 5.10 percent in February from 5.05 percent in January of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Uruguay Inflation Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Credit unions have experienced growth in recent years, stemming from increased membership and elevated interest rates throughout the period. The industry experienced improving macroeconomic conditions over the past five years, credit unions benefitted from increased consumer borrowing. Although at the onset of the period the industry was negatively impacted by economic volatility. Economic uncertainty led consumers to limit spending, while interest rates declined because the Federal Reserve lowered the Federal Funds Rate to the zero-bound range. Revenue climbed marginally by 0.2% in 2020. However, as the Federal Reserve raised interest rates in an attempt to curb inflation in 2022, industry revenue benefited. The industry experienced greater interest income demand although loan volumes were limited. However, in the latter part of the period the Fed slashed interest rates as inflationary pressures eased, hindering interest income but boosting loan demand volumes. Overall, industry revenue swelled at a CAGR of 2.1% to $113.1 billion over the past five years, including a 1.6% jump in 2025 alone. Industry profit has also climbed due to greater interest income revenue and will comprise 19.9% of revenue in 2025. Changes in the regulatory environment have and will continue to shape the direction of this industry. Greater demand for credit unions increases their systemic importance to the overall economy. These intermediaries are federally insured, so any liquidity crisis requiring federal intervention would burden taxpayers. Legislation dictating stricter capital requirements has been passed under the National Credit Union Association's Risk-Based Capital Final Rule despite lobbying and opposition. Despite an intensified regulatory landscape, industry revenue is expected to expand at a CAGR of 0.8% to $118.0 billion over the five years to 2030. As the economy settles back to normal, consumer borrowing activity is expected to mount. The industry is also likely to endure greater competition from commercial banks, as their improving customer satisfaction threatens credit union membership. Despite this challenge, credit unions are expected to continue to receive strong demand for mortgages as the rate of a 30-year conventional mortgage is expected to decline over the next five years.

Producer Prices in Armenia increased 1.60 percent in February of 2025 over the same month in the previous year. This dataset provides - Armenia Producer Prices Change- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.