inflationary spiral
noun
: a continuous rise in prices that is sustained by the tendency of wage increases and cost increases to react on each other
Examples of inflationary spiral in a Sentence
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But a Fed driven by a president’s political whims could cut rates or keep them lower than appropriate, risking an inflationary spiral that lasts long beyond the next election.
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Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 12 Jan. 2026
Paul Volcker raised interest rates and kept them up until the inflationary spiral was broken.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
In the long term, a severe debt or, more likely, an inflationary spiral could send the economy into a lost decade, drastically weakening the dollar’s position as the dominant global currency and undermining American power.
—Kenneth S. Rogoff, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
The reality is that the Fed's hands are tied; lowering rates too aggressively could trigger another inflationary spiral, while keeping them elevated risks deepening economic stagnation.
—Dave Birnbaum, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
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Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 12 Jan. 2026
Paul Volcker raised interest rates and kept them up until the inflationary spiral was broken.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
In the long term, a severe debt or, more likely, an inflationary spiral could send the economy into a lost decade, drastically weakening the dollar’s position as the dominant global currency and undermining American power.
—Kenneth S. Rogoff, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
The reality is that the Fed's hands are tied; lowering rates too aggressively could trigger another inflationary spiral, while keeping them elevated risks deepening economic stagnation.
—Dave Birnbaum, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inflationary spiral
Cite this Entry
“Inflationary spiral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inflationary%20spiral. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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