how inflation starts

Consumer Sentiment numbers out this morning show a sharp increase in consumer attitudes. The market sold off from a high with the news however. The selloff co-incided with a commentator on CNBC presenting the results of her business survey in which respondents said their inventories were high and they felt constrained to rise prices.
Well, if consumer sentiment is up while the price of gasoline has been going up strong and while a presidential race is on and while "pink slime" is in the news and talk is of war with Iran and the possible spike in oil prices from that and whatever else is bad news, and who doesn't think prices haven't been rising all along. Then I think it is well within the realm of possibility that business can raise prices!
This is how inflation starts. With expectations of rising prices and accepting that they will. With low interest rates and asset prices starting to rise.

Here is the latest:

DJ End-March Reuters/UMich Sentiment Rises To 76.2 Vs 74.3 in Early March

NEW YORK (Dow Jones)-- U.S. consumers felt a bit better about the economy in late March, according to data released Friday.
The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment index at the end of March stood at 76.2, compared with a preliminary reading of 74.3 and the 75.3 posted at the end of February, according to an economist who has seen the report.
The latest reading was better than the 74.5 expected by economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires. The current conditions index rose to 86.0 from 84.2 in early March, while the expectations index increased to 69.8 from 68.0.
The end March top-line and currents readings were the highest since February 2011.
Earlier this week, the Conference Board reported its measure of consumer confidence weakened this month. Although the job picture is improving, households are facing rising gasoline prices.
Within the Michigan survey, the one-year inflation expectations reading edged down to 3.9% from 4.0% early in March. The inflation expectations covering the next 5 to 10 years stayed at the preliminary reading of 3.0%.

-By Kathleen Madigan, Dow Jones Newswires, 212-416-2466, kathleen.madigan@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 30, 2012 10:08 ET (14:08 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2012 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.- - 10 08 AM EDT 03-30-12

sell bonds.......buy stocks.........(And Please! won't someone buy some Natural Gas! LOL)
control risk.....
gh