Navigating the 2022 inflation surge: Lessons for monetary policy frameworks
The 2022 global inflation surge tested inflation-targeting frameworks under severe supply shocks. This column shows that, despite earlier and sharper tightening, inflation targeting central banks
Oil market glut: surging output and sluggish demand pressure prices
This blog post is part of a special series based on the October 2025 Commodity Markets Outlook, a flagship report published by the World Bank. This series
25% inflation, 50 years on
UK CPI inflation in 1975 reached 25%, a period now known as the ‘Great Inflation’. This column uses a range of empirical and narrative evidence
Understanding inflation with textual analysis: How news about commodities improves predictions
Commodity prices have historically been considered leading indicators of inflation, but the relationship has weakened since the mid-1980s, making them less reliable predictors. This column
Soybeans fall on absent China demand; corn down on record crop
Corn fell on forecasts of a record large U.S. harvest, wheat firmed ahead of a U.S. interest rate decision. Chicago soybeans fell on Monday, as
Easy money, easy spending: A new take on the resource curse
When wealth or income suddenly increases (‘easy money’), this may be directed towards unproductive ‘easy spending’. This column explores the relationship between conspicuous consumption and
From battlefield to market: How disruptions in Ukraine affected grain price trends
Commodity price spikes at the outset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine contributed significantly to global inflation in 2022-23, which caught many policymakers off guard
Oil firms as investors await next steps in Ukraine peace push
U.S. crude stocks fell by 2.42 million barrels, market sources said on Tuesday, citing American Petroleum Institute figures, ahead of official data at 1430 GMT.
The world needs radical debt transparency
Over the past two decades, many developing countries have made remarkable progress in reducing poverty, expanding access to education and health care, and investing in
