Inflation affects not only the prices in stores and online but also your finances.
The American Institute for Economic Research states that inflation is an overall increase in the costs of goods and services throughout the nation. The cause of these price rises is from production costs increasing and wages increasing as well.
We will discuss what influences inflation, how it impacts your finances, and how you can trade in the stock market to differentiate your portfolio to combat the negative effects of inflation.
What influences inflation?
Production is all about supply and demand. If a product is in high demand, companies need more raw materials and labor to manufacture it. This is one of the ways that prices increase for companies to accommodate for the rise in production and labor costs.
As the minimum wage increases every few years, this means that prices increase as well. Companies that employ their workers need more money to pay them if the minimum wage is higher. Hence, this extra expense is passed off to the consumer in the form of higher prices on goods and services.
More Money Spent on Groceries, Utilities, and Gas
Inflation means that the cost of goods and services will rise, too. You will find yourself paying more for groceries on store runs. Utility bills will increase because of the cost of delivering electric, gas, water, and other utility services to customers.
The cost of milk continues to rise as manufacturers spend more money on milk pasteurization and production costs for packaging milk into plastic jugs.
As inflation increases prices, this means that the price at the pump will also skyrocket. For example, oil prices have surged recently. US petrol prices surged to over $4 a gallon at the pump in 2022, which is a record high since the last time it was at that price point in 2008. JPMorgan is projecting that Russian oil prices will increase to $185 for each barrel in 2022. Whilst the United Kingdom and elsewhere around the world is also experiencing higher inflation to due fuel cost increases.
Debt Stays the Same as Wages Increase
The amount you have to pay on your mortgage, car loan, or any other debts you have will stay the same. However, as inflation increases, wages will be boosted as well. This means that you have access to more cash to get your debts paid off because the debt value did not change because of inflation: only the increase of your wages.
Trading in the Financial Markets
Before costs go any higher, build your portfolio by trading in the financial markets to make potential gains on your investments to account for the inflation happening constantly.
You can trade contracts for difference (CFDs) on commodities like oil and gas, and valuable metals including silver and gold. You can use CFDs to purchase a contract when prices are low so you can sell them for a profit as oil prices climb higher. Like all types of financial trading, however, there is a large possibility of losses if the market moves against you. Ensure you follow solid risk management practices and stick to a trading plan.
You Are in Control Of Your Finances
While inflation does affect your finances, there are ways you can keep your money safe by investing in the stock market for possible profit, and budgeting accordingly to spend more on your needs and sparingly on your wants.