Inflation & Deflation (CIE IGCSE Economics)

Topic Questions

11 mark

Some goods take a greater percentage of a typical household’s total spending than others.

How is this accounted for in the construction of a consumer prices index?

  • by deducting the goods

  • by giving a weight to the goods

  • by taking an average of price fluctuations during a year

  • by using the price elasticity of demand for the goods

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21 mark

A person receives annual interest of 4% on their savings. Inflation is 5% per annum.

What is the approximate change in the real value of their savings?

  • -5%

  • -1%

  • +4%

  • +9%

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31 mark

An increase in which of the following is least likely to cause inflation?

  • consumer spending

  • government spending

  • income tax

  • wages

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41 mark

Rates of inflation and deflation are measured using a consumer prices index (CPI) over a period of time.

The table shows average rates of CPI for Japan from 2010–2014.

year change in CPI

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

–0.72

–0.28

–0.03

0.36

2.75


In which period did Japan experience deflation followed by inflation?

  • 2010–2011

  • 2011–2012

  • 2012–2013

  • 2013–2014

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51 mark

What is used to measure inflation?

  • the consumer prices index (CPI)

  • the exchange rate

  • the gross domestic product (GDP)

  • the index of workers’ wages

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11 mark

The table shows unemployment and inflation statistics for the US, Japan and Sweden for year 1 and year 2.

country unemployment (%) inflation (% pa)
year 1 year 2 year 1 year 2

US

Japan

Sweden

4.8

2.7

2.7

4.4

2.7

3.2

5.6

1.7

8.3

3.4

0.7

6.6

Which conclusion can be made from the table?

  • In year 1, the cost of living rose in the US.

  • In year 1, the same number of people were unemployed in Sweden and Japan.

  • The number of unemployed people decreased in all three countries.

  • Unemployment and inflation moved in the same direction in Japan.

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21 mark

In January 2016 the rate of inflation in a country changed from 3% to 2%. In March 2016 the rate of inflation was 4%.

What happened to the price level in January and March?

  January March

A

B

C

D

fell

fell

rose

rose

fell

rose

fell

rose

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31 mark

The graph shows the rate of inflation in a country between 2000 and 2014.

nov-2019v3qp-p1-cie-eco-q23

What can be concluded about average prices?

  • They fell throughout the period.

  • They peaked in 2000.

  • They rose each year.

  • They were lower in 2014 than they were in 2010.

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41 mark

What might cause prices to rise because of cost-push inflation?

  • an increase in government spending on education

  • an increase in household consumption

  • an increase in the balance of payments surplus

  • an increase in wages and salaries

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51 mark

In Uganda, the rate of inflation fell from 5% in 2014 to 2% in 2015.

Which conclusion can be drawn from this information?

  • Prices were higher in 2015 than in 2014.

  • The cost of living fell between 2014 and 2015.

  • The standard of living fell between 2014 and 2015.

  • Ugandan citizens were better off in 2015 than 2014.

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61 mark

Four groups who are affected by changing economic conditions are creditors, debtors, exporters and importers.

Which pair is most likely to be disadvantaged by a high rate of inflation?

  • creditors and exporters

  • creditors and importers

  • debtors and exporters

  • debtors and importers

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11 mark

In the construction of a consumer prices index (CPI), a total weight of 1000 is used.

If a weight of 300 is given to food and a weight of 150 is given to transport, then

  • consumers are spending half as much on transport as they do on food.

  • consumers must be spending more on necessities than on luxury goods.

  • food prices must be rising twice as fast as transport prices.

  • the weights cannot be changed until the index reaches 1000.

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21 mark

An economy is experiencing rising prices.

Which government policy will help reduce consumer expenditure?

  • introducing compulsory saving for income earners

  • investing more in building infrastructure

  • issuing more banknotes and coins

  • reducing indirect taxes

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31 mark

Venezuela, a leading world oil producer, has experienced hyperinflation of over 400% per annum in recent years.

How does hyperinflation affect an economy?

  prices effect
A
B
C
D
fluctuate up and down
fluctuate up and down
rise very rapidly
rise very rapidly
consumers are uncertain about future price levels
consumers can anticipate future price levels
value of fixed assets remains stable
money has limited worth as a medium of exchange

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41 mark

An economy experienced deflation.

Which combination shows the likely outcome of this?

  consumer
confidence
price
level
investor
confidence

A

B

C

D

decrease

decrease

increase

increase

decrease

increase

decrease

increase

decrease

decrease

increase

increase

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51 mark

What is most likely to cause a rise in the rate of inflation in an economy?

  • a fall in import prices

  • a fall in wage rates

  • a rise in the level of government spending

  • a rise in the level of unemployment

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61 mark

The diagram shows percentage (%) changes in prices and wages over time.

june-2019v3qp-p1-cie-eco-q19

What does the diagram indicate?

  • Inflation is proportionately related to wage levels.

  • The gap between wages and prices is constant.

  • Wages are highest in 2010.

  • Wage earners have increasingly less purchasing power.

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71 mark

A country is experiencing a period of full employment.

What is most likely to lead to an increase in demand-pull inflation?

  • an increase in government spending

  • an increase in imports

  • an increase in income tax rates

  • an increase in sales tax

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81 mark

Which country is suffering from the worst deflation?

  annual change in indicator
inflation
%
unemployment
rate
%
real GDP
per capita
(US$)
%

A

B

C

D

–5

–2

+2

+12

+3

–2

–3

+10

–3

–2

+1

+3

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91 mark

What is included in the calculation of a consumer prices index (CPI)?

  • the price of a basket of goods and services

  • the price of exports and the price of imports

  • the value of the currency on international markets

  • the wages of consumers

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