inflation
noun /ɪnˈfleɪʃn/
/ɪnˈfleɪʃn/
[uncountable]- a general rise in the prices of services and goods in a particular country, resulting in a fall in the value of money; the rate at which this happens
- the fight against rising inflation
- to control/curb inflation
- to reduce/bring down inflation
- a high/low rate of inflation
- an inflation rate of 3%
- Wage increases must be in line with inflation.
- Inflation is currently running at 3%.
- rapid/runaway/galloping inflation
Collocations The economyThe economyManaging the economy- handle/run/manage the economy
- boost investment/spending/employment/growth
- stimulate demand/the economy/industry
- cut/reduce investment/spending/borrowing
- reduce/curb/control/keep down inflation
- create/fuel growth/demand/a boom/a bubble
- encourage/foster/promote/stimulate/stifle innovation/competition
- encourage/work with/compete with the private sector
- increase/boost/promote US/agricultural exports
- ban/restrict/block cheap/foreign imports
- the economy grows/expands/shrinks/contracts/slows (down)/recovers/improves/is booming
- enjoy an economic/housing/property boom
- push up/drive up prices/costs/inflation
- damage/hurt/destroy industry/the economy
- cause/lead to/go into/avoid/escape recession
- experience/suffer a recession/downturn
- fight/combat inflation/deflation/unemployment
- cause/create inflation/poverty/unemployment
- create/burst a housing/stock market bubble
- cause/trigger a stock market crash/the collapse of the banking system
- face/be plunged into a financial/an economic crisis
- be caught in/experience cycles of boom and bust
- cut/reduce/slash/increase/double the defence/education/aid budget
- increase/boost/slash/cut public spending
- increase/put up/raise/cut/lower/reduce taxes
- raise/cut/lower/reduce interest rates
- ease/loosen/tighten monetary policy
- balance the (state/federal) budget
- achieve/maintain a balanced budget
- run a ($4 trillion) budget deficit/surplus
- impose taxes/austerity measures
Extra ExamplesTopics Moneyb2- The annual rate of inflation fell to 1%.
- Inflation is down to its lowest level in three years.
- Inflation reached a monthly rate of 5%.
- It is vital that inflation is kept in check.
- Wages are not keeping pace with inflation.
- an drop in inflation to 2.4%
- an increase in inflation to 3.5%
- policies to beat inflation
- savings eroded by inflation
- The bank is introducing new measures to curb inflation
- What can be done to bring down inflation?
- (disapproving) a general rise in the level of something that is awarded
- the gross inflation of executive salaries
- Exam boards were accused of grade inflation, as the number of top grades increased for the third year running.
- the act or process of filling something with air or gas
- life jackets with an automatic inflation device
Word OriginMiddle English (in the sense ‘the condition of being inflated with a gas’): from Latin inflatio(n-), from inflare ‘blow in to’, from in- ‘into’ + flare ‘to blow’. Sense (1) dates from the mid 19th cent.