Inflation's always been top of mind for economists. But since June 2022, when the Consumer Price Index (CPI) hit its highest level in 40 years (9.1%!) and the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates to their highest level in over 20 years, it's become a major talking point for the rest of us.
This is because inflation is a measure of our purchasing power. How much things cost and how quickly prices are rising directly impact not only how far a dollar will stretch for us, but also how far it will go for the companies that we invest in. And very few things make the stock market grumpier than a disappointing profit margin.
