Oil is back above $100 a barrel, food prices are climbing and central banks are once again facing pressure to raise interest rates. Is the world heading towards a second wave of inflation?
In this episode, Anthony Cheung and Piers Curran explain why the latest inflation threat goes far beyond the headline oil price. China is returning to the crude market just as conflict continues to disrupt global energy supplies, while refinery problems are pushing petrol and diesel prices even higher.
At the same time, food commodities including wheat, rice, coffee, sugar and cocoa are rising as war, extreme weather and supply disruption hit global production. We look at how those higher costs eventually reach the supermarket checkout and why a £100 UK weekly shop from 2020 could soon cost around £150.
Finally, we break down what this means for the Federal Reserve, Bank of England and other central banks, why bond yields are rising, and whether higher inflation could force interest rates to stay higher for longer.
(00:00) Is Inflation Coming Back?
(01:33) Why Oil Is Above $100
(05:57) The Trump Oil Problem
(07:11) Petrol Prices Surge
(12:43) How Oil Traders React
(15:58) Food Inflation Returns
(22:44) Why Food Prices Are Rising
(23:59) Interest Rates Going Higher?
(28:47) The Stagflation Risk
(31:36) The £150 Weekly Shop