Abstract This study investigates how the supply shocks, originated by commodity prices, have impacted on the Brazilian inflation, the way, and how efficiently monetary policy of the country has reacted. To this purpose, a semi-structural model containing a Phillips curve, an IS curve, and two versions of the Central Bank's reaction function were estimated. The method of estimation used was the autoregression with Vector Error Correction (VEC) in its structural version. The results suggest that the Brazilian inflation rate has an important index component, but it is also affected by the expectation that the market shows about the inflation, and by the price behavior on the supply side. They both have some impact on inflation expectations.

This paper provides aggregate-level evidence from a set of 31 advanced and emerging economies that supports the existence of supply-side effects for monetary policy, i.e., the cost channel. Our methodology employs sign restrictions and historical decompositions to first separate inflation and loan rates into their demand-driven and supply-driven components. These supply-driven components (here called the supply inflation and supply loan rate, respectively) are then used to test for the cost channel. Analytically, a monetary policy tightening, by reducing banks’ loan supply, increases the supply loan rate and raises the borrowing costs faced by firms. Such an adjustment in loan rates also produces a contraction in the aggregate supply that ultimately raises supply inflation. Our estimates show that a monetary tightening increases supply inflation in all countries, but more significantly in emerging economies. Larger supply inflation occurs due to the greater responses of supply loan rates to policy rates and of supply inflation to supply loan rates. According to our stylized New Keynesian model, both reactions are potentially related to the higher pass-through of banks’ and firms’ costs to rates and prices, respectively. Finally, we find out that, on average, the size of the cost channel in emerging economies outweighs the downward inflationary pressures expected from the aggregate demand contraction. Our interpretation is that rising inflation expectations are responsible for this result.

The enduring discourse regarding the effectiveness of interest rate policy in mitigating inflation within developing economies is characterized by the interplay of structural and supply-side determinants. Moreover, extant academic literature fails to resolve the direction of causality between inflation and interest rates. Nevertheless, the prevalent adoption of interest rate-based monetary policies in numerous developing economies raises a fundamental inquiry: What motivates central banks in these nations to consistently espouse this strategy? To address this inquiry, our study leverages wavelet transformation to dissect interest rate and inflation data across a spectrum of frequency scales. This innovative methodology paves the way for a meticulous exploration of the intricate causal interplay between these pivotal macroeconomic variables for twenty-two developing economies using monthly data from 1992 to 2022. Traditional literature on causality tends to focus on short- and long-run timescales, yet our study posits that numerous uncharted time and frequency scales exist between these extremes. These intermediate scales may wield substantial influence over the causal relationship and its direction. Our research thus extends the boundaries of existing causality literature and presents fresh insights into the complexities of monetary policy in developing economies. Traditional wisdom suggests that central banks should raise interest rates to combat inflation. However, our study uncovers a contrasting reality in developing economies. It demonstrates a positive causal link between the policy rate and inflation, where an increase in the central bank’s interest rates leads to an upsurge in price levels. Paradoxically, in response to escalating prices, the central bank continues to heighten the policy rate, thereby perpetuating this cyclical pattern. Given this observed positive causal relationship in developing economies, central banks must explore structural and supply-side factors to break this cycle and regain control over inflation.

Building materials made of steel, copper and other metals had some of the highest price growth rates in the U.S. in early 2025 in comparison to the previous year. The growth rate of the cost of several construction materials was slightly lower than in late 2024. It is important to note, though, that the figures provided are Producer Price Indices, which cover production within the United States, but do not include imports or tariffs. This might matter for lumber, as Canada's wood production is normally large enough that the U.S. can import it from its neighboring country. Construction material prices in the United Kingdom Similarly to these trends in the U.S., at that time the price growth rate of construction materials in the UK were generally lower 2024 than in 2023. Nevertheless, the cost of some construction materials in the UK still rose that year, with several of those items reaching price growth rates of over **** percent. Considering that those materials make up a very big share of the costs incurred for a construction project, those developments may also have affected the average construction output price in the UK. Construction material shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic During the first years of the COVID-19 pandemic, there often were supply problems and material shortages, which created instability in the construction market. According to a survey among construction contractors, the construction materials most affected by shortages in the U.S. during most of 2021 were steel and lumber. This was also a problem on the other side of the Atlantic: The share of building construction companies experiencing shortages in Germany soared between March and June 2021, staying at high levels for over a year. Meanwhile, the shortage of material or equipment was one of the main factors limiting the building activity in France in June 2022.

To stimulate economic growth, China has launched multiple economic stimulus plans in recent years, intensifying corporate debt financing and subsequently elevating the leverage levels. Addressing and effectively reducing the leverage levels of our country’s enterprises has emerged as a pressing issue in the trajectory of our economic development. This paper primarily investigates the drivers, pathways, and mechanisms for reversing the over-leveraged values of enterprises. Key findings include: (1) Excessive indebtedness exerts a negative impact on corporate value, with the suppressing effect intensifying as the degree of over-leverage increases; (2) Over-leveraged enterprises can effectively decrease their debt levels and enhance their value through private placement. Further research suggests that this mechanism operates by amplifying the operational leverage of over-leveraged enterprises post private placement and alleviating financing constraints, thereby elevating corporate value. (3) Compared to non-state-owned enterprises, state-owned enterprises exhibit higher levels of indebtedness. Among over-leveraged firms, enhancements in corporate governance and increased investment efficiency can positively transform corporate value. This study offers valuable insights for the ongoing supply-side structural reforms and governance guidance from the regulatory bodies.