A Pew Research Center poll showed that most Americans are worried that their states are opening too early. In fact, the research shows that:
- 68% of Americans think that state governments will lift coronavirus-related restrictions on public activity too quickly
- 31% say that states will not lift restrictions quickly enough
And unsurprisingly, the researchers noted that “views seem to be more divided along partisan and ideological lines.”
Notwithstanding where we each stand, as states begin to reopen for business and while Congress debates another round of stimulus, investors would be well served to understand the latest Consumer Price Index data from the Department of Labor. Because these massive trillion-dollar stimulus packages will have inflationary implications one way or another. And inflation will impact your long-term retirement strategies.
Inflation Matters
In simple terms, inflation is defined as an increase in the general level of prices for goods and services. Deflation, on the other hand, is defined as a decrease in the general level of prices for goods and services. It matters because inflation decreases the purchasing power of your money in the future. If inflation is say 10% (considered high by the way), then a loaf of bread that costs $1 this year will cost $1.10 the next year.
Inflation in the U.S. has averaged around 3.3% from 1914 until 2019 and it has averaged about 3.7% for the past 60 years. The annual inflation rate for 2019 came in at 2.3%, its largest annual rate since 2011.
Watching Inflation
The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes monthly measures of inflation when it calculates the Consumer Price Index.
On May 12th, it was reported that the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers declined 0.8% in April, the largest monthly decline since December 2008.
The reasons for the large change were identified as follows:
- A 20.6% decline in the gasoline index was the largest contributor to the monthly decrease
- The indices for apparel, motor vehicle insurance, airline fares, and lodging away from home all fell sharply as well
Interestingly, the Food indices actually rose in April, with the index for food at home posting its largest monthly increase since February 1974. Otherwise, April’s CPI decrease would have been larger. But more importantly, the Consumer Price Index for all items minus food and energy fell 0.4% in April, the largest monthly decline in the history of the series, which dates to 1957.
Accounting for 3% Inflation
Although inflation declined for the month of April, and over the last two rolling 12-month periods, the question for investors to think about is whether inflation will find its way into the broad economy, given all the money that government stimulus created. And more importantly, what should an investor do about it?
While no simple answer covers every situation, generally speaking, your long-term retirement strategies should account for inflation. And a good rule of thumb is that you assume inflation to be about 3% – its historical average.
If you’re wrong and we find that the inflation rate for the next 25 years turns out to be less than your assumed 3%, then the purchasing power of your retirement savings will be more, not less.
Your financial professional can help model different retirement scenarios while accounting for inflation.
Important Disclosures
The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which investment(s) may be appropriate for you, consult your financial professional prior to investing. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly.
Inflation is the rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services is rising, and, subsequently, purchasing power is falling.
All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy.
This article was prepared by RSW Publishing.
