If you look up the original definition of inflation and deflation, you will find that it is defined as the increase and decrease in the money supply.
1913 definition according to Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
Inflation (Page: 760)
In*fla"tion (?), n. [L. inflatio: cf. F. inflation.]
1. The act or process of inflating, or the state of being inflated, as with air or gas; distention; expansion; enlargement. Boyle.
2. The state of being puffed up, as with pride; conceit; vanity. B. Jonson.
3. Undue expansion or increase, from overissue; -- said of currency. [U.S.]
Webster’s 1983 Definition of Inflation
An increase in the amount of currency in circulation, resulting in a relatively sharp and sudden fall in its value and rise in prices: it may be caused by an increase in the volume of paper money issued or of gold mined, or a relative increase in expenditures as when the supply of goods fails to meet the demand.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, Copyright © 2000 Published by Houghton Mifflin Company says:
Inflation: A persistent increase in the level of consumer prices or a persistent decline in the purchasing power of money, caused by an increase in available currency and credit beyond the proportion of available goods and services.
Yes that is correct, i dont know why people cant get it.
Price increase is not equal to inflation, deal with it!Now you can get lowering prices in a deflationary enviroment, let's say the CB print money like madman, but the prices go down? Why, maybe because technology let them find ways to lower the production cost and make it more efficient, or they just increased the supply.
Doest this mean that inflation is not present? Well from a consumer standpoint his daily purchases wont be affected,
but if that economy is based on imports, then start praying guys?You see an autarky economy would never experience inflation, but almost every country in the world now has massive trade deficits, so that is the fact. Hyperinflation will come, and poor basterds will lose everything.