“Inflation”​ Rise can kill UK?

Inflation going up forces banks to raise interest rates. Higher interest rates causes bond prices to fall.
But inflation was never an issue since past 30 years.

Story between 1960 till 1970s

Inflation shoots up from 1.4% to 5.8% As a consequence, Central banks raise interest rates from 4.1% to 8% Inflation is a hint that, there is surplus money in the economy. Due to which, governments have to suck it out of the system. By increasing interest rates, people will bring this surplus money towards Bonds, Bank FDs etc. An stuck money ceases to exist.

Since money circulation reduces in the economy, inflation (rise in cost) gets manageably lower.
As you can see below, in 10 years, it was quiet tough to reduce inflation.

Did you notice how interest rates must stay above inflation to keep things under control?
When the interest rate goes up, Bond prices fall. The below image will give a quick explanation.

Thanks to Russia, the energy bill is soaring in UK. This time inflation is in the form of energy bills. (Energy bills = Inflation)

Government is forced to pay huge premium for the usage of energy. To compensate for the increasing expenses, Government is in-turn forced to borrow more via bonds.

When you flood market with more bonds, the demand for government bonds go down. People hesitate to lend to government. When demand for bond goes down, in order to attract the investor, government has to raise interest rate. Make the deal sweeter. This is the cycle of direct cause and effect between Inflation & Interest rate.

Story between 1970 till 1980s

Inflation kept going up from 5.8% till 13.5% percentage.
As a consequence, you know interest must have gone up?

YES, from 8% it is 12.8%

Basically if you know your countries inflation, you can predict its interest rate.

In 2022, Uk inflation is 9.9%

Now since you posses the ability to guess the interest rate in UK.

If inflation is 9.9%, interest should be 10% or above. But no, the interest rate is 2.5% and will be raised to 5% before December 2022.

In the above chart, the red line should be above blue line. If the red lines shoots up like the blue line, UK is pushed into a severe recession!

With higher interest, will any business grow in country?

Companies with loan must pay more as interest from their profit. This shrinks their profit margin. To protect this profits, can company raise price of products?

Probably no. Increased prices will push customers away and the sales volume will plummet.

It is a catch 22 situation for companies. Growing interest rate is an assurance of fall in profits.

Moreover, think about the customer who spends?

His home loan EMI is shooting up, Energy bills, food bills gone up. Budget is out of whack. Suddenly alot of middle class people are pushed to lower class. People drive less and take public transport more.

Eating out is limited to occasions. Vacation trip becomes luxury. Jobs are lost to recession too.

Conclusion

Inflation was brought down from 13.5% till 4.7% between 1980 till 1990. Since 1980, for past 40 years, inflation was a sleeping giant. It never bothers us.

An entire generation has grown up, without hearing what inflation is about. It is dangerous and how it can spoil decades of wealth creation.

Central banks did what they pleased with interest rate. And now, the inflation giant has awakened.