What will inflation look like in 2022? 
This is a question on many investors’ minds, isn't it?
Across several countries, inflation has hit its highest level in decades.
Supply shortages and massive monetary stimulus have contributed to increasing consumer prices.
Asset prices, including houses, have also risen significantly.
The following infographic from Visual Capitalist shows inflation by country in 2022 according to IMF projections.
And Australia doesn't look too bad does it?
Inflation by Country in 2022
Inflation rates are based on the annual percentage change in average consumer prices.
This measures the average level of prices in a country based on a basket of goods and services over a given time period.
Here are forecasted inflation rates for the largest economies worldwide, and how they compare to pre-pandemic levels:
| Inflation Rate, Average Consumer Prices (Annual % Change) | 2019 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|
 United States |
1.5% | 3.5% |
 China |
2.9% | 1.8% |
 Japan |
0.5% | 0.5% |
 Germany |
1.4% | 1.5% |
 United Kingdom |
1.8% | 2.6% |
 India |
4.8% | 4.9% |
 France |
1.3% | 1.6% |
 Italy |
0.6% | 1.8% |
 Canada |
1.9% | 2.6% |
 South Korea |
0.4% | 1.6% |
 Russia |
4.5% | 4.8% |
 Brazil |
3.7% | 5.3% |
 Australia |
1.6% | 2.1% |
 Spain |
0.7% | 1.6% |
 Mexico |
3.6% | 3.8% |
 Indonesia |
2.8% | 2.8% |
 Iran |
34.6% | 27.5% |
 Netherlands |
2.7% | 1.7% |
 Saudi Arabia |
-2.1% | 2.2% |
 Switzerland |
0.4% | 0.6% |
Over the last two years, the U.S. central bank has doubled the assets on its balance sheet, which stand at roughly 27% of GDP.
Inflation rates tell a different story in China.
Rates are forecasted to fall below pre-pandemic levels, reaching 1.8%.
In fact, across East Asia, prices have been largely immune to inflationary pressures, but this could change in 2022.
While inflation is rising in Europe, it’s at roughly half the rate as the U.S., with Germany, France, and Italy projected to see inflation rates below 2%.
However, the UK is an outlier, with inflation set to reach 2.6%.
What Are the Effects of Inflation?
What is driving inflation around advanced economies?
In the U.S., energy prices rose over 29% between 2020 and 2021. Meanwhile, food costs have increased 6.5%, driven by labor shortages, domestic demand, rising cost of feed and other inputs.
Looking forward, Kraft Heinz, General Mills, Starbucks and several other corporations have announced price hikes in 2022.
| Consumer Price Inflation (Annual % Change 2020-2021) | Energy | Food | All Items |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States |
29.3% | 6.5% | 7.0% |
| Japan |
16.4% | 2.6% | 0.8% |
| Germany |
18.3% | 5.9% | 5.3% |
| United Kingdom |
24.5% | 4.2% | 4.8% |
| France |
19.6% | 1.4% | 2.8% |
| Italy |
29.4% | 2.9% | 3.9% |
| Canada |
21.2% | 5.7% | 4.8% |
Source: Refinitiv, OECD
In Japan, businesses are taking a different approach. Instead of input costs passing on to consumers, companies are absorbing the costs to avoid the risk of losing business.
For instance, when Kikkoman announced 4-10% increases in 2021, it made national news.
- Also read:Australia’s housing market “is going from Bad to Worse” | Property Insiders
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This has been a typical practice for decades amid low growth, stagnant wages, and a deflationary environment.
Highest Inflation by Country in 2022
Venezuela is the highest in the world, with a forecasted 2,000% rise in inflation.
Since October, the central bank has been printing as many as $100 million bolívars per week to help stabilize the exchange rate against the U.S. dollar.
Hyperinflation has run rampant since 2017, with U.S oil sanctions adding significant challenges to the economy.
These bans on Venezuelan exports have caused damaging economic impacts and instability.
| Inflation Rate, Average Consumer Prices (Annual % Change) | 2019 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|
 Venezuela |
19,906% | 2,000% |
 Sudan |
51.0% | 41.8% |
 Suriname |
4.4% | 31.7% |
 Yemen |
12.0% | 31.5% |
 Zimbabwe |
255.3% | 30.7% |
| Iran |
34.6% | 27.5% |
 South Sudan |
51.2% | 24.0% |
 Zambia |
9.2% | 19.2% |
 Haiti |
17.3% | 15.5% |
 Turkey |
15.2% | 15.4% |
Like Venezuela, Iran faces high inflation, compounded by 960 U.S. sanctions.
In addition, the country has been cut off from the international banking messaging system, SWIFT, to increase pressure on nuclear negotiations.
What this means is that Iranian banks can’t pay for exports or receive payment for imports.
Lowest Inflation by Country in 2022
On the other hand, Saint Kitts and Nevis is the only country projected to have negative inflation in 2022, at -0.5%.
Not only that, disinflation is projected to increase from pre-pandemics levels.
| Inflation Rate, Average Consumer Prices (Annual % Change) | 2019 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|
 Saint Kitts and Nevis |
-0.3% | -0.5% |
 Trinidad and Tobago |
1.0% | 0.0% |
 Greece |
0.5% | 0.4% |
| Japan |
0.5% | 0.5% |
 Grenada |
0.6% | 0.6% |
| Switzerland |
0.4% | 0.6% |
 San Marino |
1.0% | 0.9% |
 Cyprus |
0.6% | 1.0% |
 Palau |
0.6% | 1.0% |
 Comoros |
3.7% | 1.2% |
Greece, Japan, and Switzerland all are forecasted to see inflation fall below 1%.
Suppressed demand and low national economic output are factors behind low inflation rates in Greece, which has led to downward pressures on inflation.
The Future of Inflation Worldwide
A combination of factors unique to COVID-19 have pushed inflation to multi-decade highs. But will inflation eventually fade over time?
For many countries, the IMF forecasts that it will.
By 2025, U.S. inflation is projected to reach 2.5%, while many advanced countries could see rates at or below the 2% target often set by central banks.
| Inflation Rate, Average Consumer Prices (Annual % Change) | 2022 | 2025E |
|---|---|---|
| United States |
3.5% | 2.5% |
| China |
1.8% | 2.0% |
| Japan |
0.5% | 1.0% |
| Germany |
1.5% | 1.8% |
| United Kingdom |
2.6% | 2.0% |
| India |
4.9% | 4.0% |
| France |
1.6% | 1.2% |
| Italy |
1.8% | 1.3% |
| Canada |
2.6% | 2.1% |
| South Korea |
1.6% | 2.0% |
Structural forces that began to take hold in the 1980s have led to declining inflation rates for many years.
These forces are not likely going away.
Globalization is unlikely to stop and slowing energy demand may cause energy prices to level off.
In addition, as vaccination rates increase and more people enter the workforce, spending could move towards services, lessening the price pressures on goods.
Central banks around the world have already started tightening monetary policy and stimulus measures, such as tapering bond purchases, which could help lower inflation.
As countries brace for higher inflation in the short term, the long-term view may return to pre-pandemic trends.
Source: Visual Capitalist
