[The Sun] Savvy Consumer an Invaluable Inflation Hedge

February 19, 2022

The Sun recently published an editorial featuring Jay Zagorsky, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Markets, Public Policy, and Law, on the high inflation rate that has been brought on by the pandemic.

The editorial details the economic damage that has hammered consumers over the past year, resulting in severe labor shortages and higher costs throughout the supply chain of manufacturing, distribution and retailing. Inflation has risen at its fastest pace in nearly forty years, with the U.S. not having experienced such inflation pressures since the early 1980s. Americans have ramped up spending, while supply chains have remained squeezed by shortages of workers and raw materials.

Although inflation has affected a variety of industries, it is not affecting every commodity. For that reason, Jay suggests consumers stock up on goods whose prices haven’t risen nearly as much to help offset the spike. For example, compared to bacon, which has increased in price by 18% in the past year, frankfurters have increased only 2%.