ANNUALIZED INFLATION RATE VS MONTH TO MONTH INFLATION RATE
Written by Obwoge Joseph on October 9, 2023
The annualized inflation rate and the month-to-month inflation rate are two different measurements used to analyze changes in prices over a specific period of time.
The month-to-month inflation rate refers to the percentage change in prices from one month to the next. It gives a short-term perspective on inflation trends within a year.
On the other hand, the annualized inflation rate is a measure of inflation that is calculated on an annual basis. It takes into account the cumulative effect of inflation throughout the year, which gives a longer-term perspective on price changes.
Calculating the annualized inflation rate involves compounding the monthly inflation rates over the course of a year. This is done by raising the monthly inflation rate to the power of 12 (assuming there are 12 months in a year), then subtracting 1 and multiplying by 100 to express it as a percentage.
For example, if the average monthly inflation rate is 0.5% for a given year, we can calculate the annualized inflation rate as follows:
(1 + 0.005)^12 – 1 = 6.17%
Therefore, the annualized inflation rate in this scenario would be approximately 6.17%.
It’s important to note that the month-to-month inflation rate may fluctuate more frequently and show more short-term volatility, while the annualized inflation rate provides a smoother average over a longer period of time. Both measurements are useful for understanding inflation trends and their impact on the market and the economy.