Cost push inflation occurs when we experience rising prices due to higher costs of production and higher costs of raw materials. Cost push inflation is determined by supply side factors (cost-push inflation is different to demand-pull inflation which occurs due to aggregate demand growing faster than aggregate supply)
Cost-push inflation can lead to lower economic growth and often causes a fall in living standards, though it often proves to be temporary.
Diagram Showing Cost Push Inflation
Causes of Cost Push Inflation
- Higher Price of Commodities. A rise in the price of oil would lead to higher petrol prices and higher transport costs. All firms would see some rise in costs. As the most important commodity, higher oil prices often lead to cost push inflation (e.g. 1970s, 2008, 2010-11)
- Imported Inflation. A devaluation will increase the domestic price of imports. Therefore, after a devaluation we often get an increase in inflation due to rising cost of imports.
- Higher Wages. Wages are one of the main costs facing firms. Rising wages will push up prices as firms have to pay higher costs (higher wages may also cause rising demand)
- Higher Taxes. Higher VAT and Excise duties will increase the prices of goods. This price increase will be a temporary increase.
- Higher Food Prices. In western economies food is a smaller % of overall spending, but in developing countries, it plays a bigger role. (food inflation)
Cost push inflation could be caused by a rise in oil prices or other raw materials. Imported inflation could occur after a depreciation in the exchange rate which increases the price of imported goods.
Cost Push Inflation – Temporary or Permanent?
Many cost push factors like rising energy prices, higher taxes, effect of devaluation may prove temporary. Therefore, Central Banks may tolerate a higher inflation rate if it is caused by cost push factors. For example, in 2011, CPI inflation reached 5%, but the Bank of England kept base rates at 0.5%. This shows they are confident (hopeful) inflation will soon fall.
Other economists may fear that temporary cost push factors may influence inflation expectations. If people see higher inflation, they may bargain for higher wages and thus the temporary cost push inflation becomes sustained.
Measures of Inflation
Some measures of inflation seek to avoid ‘temporary cost-push factors’ For example, CPI-Y excludes the effect of taxes. ‘Core inflation’ seeks to measure inflation by ignoring volatile factors such as commodities and energy.
Policies to Reduce Cost Push Inflation
Policies to reduce cost push inflation are essentially the same as policies to reduce demand pull inflation.
The government could pursue deflationary fiscal policy (higher taxes, lower spending) or monetary authorities could increase interest rates. This would increase cost of borrowing and reduce consumer spending and investment.
The problem with using higher interest rates is that although it will reduce inflation it could lead to a big fall in GDP.
For example, in early 2008, we had a high period of inflation (5%) due to rising oil and food prices. Central banks kept interest rates high, but this pushed the economy into recession. Arguably, interest rates should have been lower and less importance attached to reducing cost push inflation.
In 2010, we might see a period of cost push inflation, but, the Central Bank may need to adopt a certain flexibility in inflation targeting. There is no point in rigidly sticking to an inflation target if the inflation is caused by temporary factors.
The long term solution to cost push inflation could be better supply side policies which help to increase productivity and shift the AS curve to the right. But, these policies would take a long time to have an effect.