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Money Girl

087 MG Inflation Nation

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Broadcast on:
10 Sep 2008
Audio Format:
other

Like what you hear? Help us out by writing a review at iTunes. Questions go to money@qdnow.com. Thank you!

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Hello and welcome to Money Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for a richer life. I'm your host, Laura Adams. Has inflation been on your mind? In this episode, I'll discuss what causes inflation and tell you about investment and vehicles to help protect your nest egg. Inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services over time. This is shown by the fact that during the 1940s, in the United States, you could buy a loaf of bread for $0.15 and a new car for less than $1,000. The value of a dollar can only be measured by its purchasing power, as inflation causes prices to rise, every dollar buys a smaller percentage of a good or service. If the inflation rate is 4%, then a $2 loaf of bread will cost $2.08 in a year. After inflation, our money simply doesn't buy the same goods or services that it did beforehand. This is why many people fear inflation and think of it as an evil force that must be tamed. So, what causes inflation? Well, the most accepted idea about inflation is that it results from increases in the money supply of an economy. To understand this monetarist view, imagine an economy where nothing exists except loads of bread and dollars printed by the government. When more money is printed and gets into the hands of consumers, there are more dollars in the economy available to buy the same amount of bread. This will drive up the prices that consumers are willing to pay. There are many measures of inflation, but the most well known is the Consumer Price Index or CPI. The CPI reveals changes in retail prices of a basket of consumer goods, such as food, clothing, and cars. The index compares the value of the same basket each year to calculate the level of inflation for that period. It's published monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. I'll put a link in the show notes to a handy inflation calculator that allows you to adjust any amount of money for inflation according to the CPI from 1800 to the present. The real worth of your assets is not their absolute dollar amount, but what could be bought with those dollars. If your investments are making returns at or below the inflation rate, they're losing value. So it's important to understand the difference between nominal interest rates and real interest rates. A nominal interest rate is not adjusted for inflation, and a real interest rate has been adjusted for inflation. So the real interest rate is the nominal rate minus inflation. For example, if you earn 5% interest per year on money in a CD and inflation is 4% per year, then the real interest rate you are receiving is 1%, that's 5%, minus 4%. The real value of your investment will only increase by 1% when the purchasing power of the money is taken into consideration. September is a great month for planning. 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Go to policygenius.com or click the link in the description to get your free life insurance quotes and see how much you can save. That's policygenius.com. H5N1 Bird Flu is spreading in poultry and cows. It's rare in people, but bird flu can make you sick. If you work with poultry, dairy cows, wild animals, or with raw, unpasteurized milk, wear protective gear like coveralls, NIOSH approved respirators, and eye protection, and wash your hands often. If you start feeling sick, seek medical care and tell them you work with animals. Learn how to reduce your risk at cdc.gov/birdflu, a message from CDC. We wear our work day by day, stitch by stitch. At Dickies, we believe work is what we're made of. So whether you're gearing up for a new project or looking to add some tried and true workware to your collection, remember that Dickies has been standing the test of time for a reason. Their workware isn't just about looking good. It's about performing under pressure and lasting through the toughest jobs. Get over to Dickies.com and use the promo code Workware20 at checkout to save 20% on your purchase. It's the perfect time to experience the quality and reliability that has made Dickies a trusted name for over a century. So how can assets be protected from inflation? Inflation index securities guarantee a return higher than the rate of inflation if held to maturity. These real returns offer protection against inflation but provide low returns on investment. The following are five different types of inflation protected securities. Number one, treasury inflation protected securities or tips are backed by the federal government. They pay interest on a principal amount that's adjusted for inflation as measured by the CPI. Here's a tip about tips. To avoid having to pay the income tax that results from the increased principal value, hold these investments in a tax-deferred account such as an IRA. Number two, municipal inflation link securities are issued by various government entities. They pay interest based on the CPI. They're similar to municipal bonds in that they're exempt from federal taxes and from most state and local taxes. Number three, corporate inflation link securities are issued by companies. They carry more risk and therefore pay higher returns. The yields adjust monthly for changes in the inflation rate. Number four, inflation-linked certificates of deposit are ensured by the federal deposit insurance corporation or FDIC. The interest rate changes annually based on inflation changes. And number five, inflation-linked savings bonds or I-bonds are backed by the federal government. They grow with inflation-indexed earnings for up to 30 years. Federal income tax is deferred until the bonds mature or you sell them and they're exempt from state and local income taxes. More financial institutions are marketing inflation protected securities to investors who believe inflation will continue to rise. The investments can take the form of individual securities or mutual funds. Before I go, here's one final tip to battle inflation. When possible, negotiate employment contracts that include an automatic annual increase that matches the prior year's inflation rate. Cha-ching, that's all for now, courtesy of Money Girl, your guide to a richer life. I'm glad you're listening. Send all email comments and questions to money@quickanddirtytips.com or call into the Money Girl voicemail line at 1-877-6-Ritcher. You might just make it on the show. If you forget this contact information, just go to the Quick and Dirty Tips Network website at quickanddirtytips.com. This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for seeking personalized professional advice. Be sure to consult a tax or financial advisor before making important financial decisions. H5N1 Bird Flu is spreading in poultry and cows. It's rare in people, but bird flu can make you sick. If you work with poultry, dairy cows, wild animals, or withdraw unpasteurized milk, wear protective gear like coveralls, NIOSH approved respirators and eye protection, and wash your hands often. If you start feeling sick, seek medical care and tell them you work with animals. Learn how to reduce your risk at CDC.gov/Bird Flu, a message from CDC. With the Wells Fargo Active Cash Credit Card, you can earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases you want and purchases you need. That means you earn on what you want, like trying out that new workout class and 2% cash rewards on what you need, like a foam roller for your sore muscles. That's the beauty of the Active Cash Credit Card. It's ready when you are with unlimited 2% cash rewards. The Wells Fargo Active Cash Credit Card. That's real life ready. 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