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200+% inflation rates destroy the meaning of any such ledger really quickly. The US had 17% inflation rates* fairly recently and just avoided that cliff.

Higest short term rate listed: 23.7% in june 1920. http://www.usinflationcalculator.com/inflation/historical-in...



I'm suspicious that Volcker breaking the back of inflation is one of the factors behind lower growth over the last 30 years.

The theory being that the Fed is good at balancing growth and inflation but too conservative.


Well, sure, in theory, but he deliberately induced a recession, right? It seems like a plausible claim to me. http://theweek.com/articles/618964/forgotten-recession-that-...


> The US has 17% inflation rates fairly recently

I'll bite. What's your source.


17% is a little high, but I'm guessing the GP is referring to 1980:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_1980s_recession#Inflatio...


Annual inflation capped at "1980 soared to 13.5%", but the inflation rate spiked above that in the same year.

http://www.usinflationcalculator.com/inflation/historical-in... lists a peak of 14.8% but if have seen 17% elsewhere.

1917-1920 had some periods over 20%.




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