Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Irrational Exuberance In Producer Prices Coincided With Housing Bubble

Once producer prices hit the 122 level on the index in 1999, they really didn't look back for nine years, reaching a peak of 205 in 2008, a rise of 68 percent, pretty much tracking the housing bubble.

The dramatic reflation of the PPI since the recent nadir around 169 in 2009 has not been accompanied by a reflation of housing prices, try as the Fed may.

"With the exception of a few thoughtful men, the whole nation again sang paeans." -- Andrew White, Inflation in France (quoted here)