Proper business planning is essential in any business. Some companies are better than others of course; for instance, Toyota’s planning is superior to the U.S. automaker’s planning. Toyota used innovative technology and began to introduce high mileage hybrids when the cost of gasoline began to rapidly rise. This type of proper business planning will lead to greater success.
Personal planning is similar to business planning. Properly plan for the future and you’ll be much more successful. When planning a personal budget, future expenditures, or choosing investments, proper planning is essential for maximum success.
The U.S. happens to be engaging in a hyperinflationary path today. What this means is the Federal Reserve is loaning billions of dollars to ailing banks. This causes many economical problems such as inflation. Many believe inflation to be the rise of prices; actually it is a devaluation of money due to dilution. When Ben Bernanke gave his infamous helicopter speech it was stated that the Federal Reserve can dilute the value of a country’s money when they feel the need.
Currently we are on a hyperinflationary path but need we continue this path to the bitter end? In the early 1920’s Weimar Germany followed this path until their currency, the Mark, was completely worthless. In 1914 the Mark’s worth was about 4.2 Marks to equal one US dollar. It began falling and in 1920 it took nearly 39.5 Marks to equal one US dollar. The falling trend continued until November 1923 it took 2.4 trillion Marks to equal one US dollar.
By the next month the Mark was worthless and was replaced. This is one very good example of hyperinflation that a country can experience; unfortunately bringing them to the point of worthless currency. But is it really necessary to continue a path of hyperinflation to this point? No. The US was on an inflationary path in the 1970’s. This could have continued to the point of worthless money but it didn’t. Attention of the rapidly raising costs contributed to the cessation of the inflationary path with the aid of Paul Volcker.
Well, here we are, 28 years later, and again this country is going down a hyperinflationary path. Where will it stop this time? Will it continue to the ultimate end like Weimer Germany in the 1920’s, or will it be halted like it was in 1980? If it is halted, at what point will that be?
These are good questions to which I wish I had the answers to. Inflation often leads to situations like what is going on in Haiti where riots are breaking out over food prices and people are being killed.
When will today’s hyperinflationary path change courses? I would like to know the answer to that. Rapidly rising home prices didn’t seem to cause much complaint from the public; of course those who owned homes already didn’t notice this.
There is a saying, ‘the tide will raise all ships’ and this is true. It is nearly impossible for the prices of gasoline, food, and clothing to rise and also the prices of homes to rise as well. The best guess I would have is that the hyperinflation will continue until the price of homes begin to rise again.
When there is rioting and deaths due to rising prices of food and gasoline, then the days of hyperinflation may be nearing an end. Stay tuned.