High inflation has affected nations across the globe, though to varying degrees. A mix of demand-side factors, including covid-era ultra-low interest rates, and supply-side factors including global supply chain issues were among the reasons that inflation was so ubiquitous around the world. And while all central banks had to first stimulate their economies in the face of covid, then grapple with high inflation, their methods for each vary.
While Canada went to a near-zero deposit rate in 2020 at 0.25%, and the US actually went to 0.00%, the UK went to 0.10%, and the EU, meanwhile, went negative to -0.50%. These differing rates, along with the respective decisions on when to start hiking likely had some impact on the runup in inflation in 2021 and 2022. Canada and the US both started to increase in March 2022 and the EU waited until July and the UK December. Inflation rates in Canada and the US peaked in June at 8.1% and 9.1%, respectively. Canada and the US now both have higher interest rates than inflation rates, while the EU lags behind at a 3.50% interest rate and inflation of 5.3%, while the UK is at a 5.00% interest rate and a 6.9% inflation rate.