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Describe unanticipated inflation

Describe unanticipated inflation?

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Debtors (borrowers) can be helped and lenders hurt by unanticipated inflation. Interest payments may be less than the inflation rate, so borrowers receive “dear” money and are paying back “cheap” dollars that have less purchasing power for the lender. If inflation is anticipated, the effects of inflation may be less severe, since wage and pension contracts may have inflation clauses built in, and interest rates will be high enough to cover the cost of inflation to savers and lenders. “Inflation premium” is amount that interest rate is raised to cover effects of anticipated inflation. “Real interest rate” is defined as nominal rate minus inflation premium.

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