Suppose the fixed interest rate on a loan is 5.75% and the rate of inflation is expected to be 4.25%. The real interest rate is 1.5%. Suppose now that instead of 4.25%, the inflation rate unexpectedly reaches 5.5%. Who gains and who loses from this unanticipated inflation? (Mark all that apply.)

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Business

Tomas Mueller

12 September, 05:08

Suppose the fixed interest rate on a loan is 5.75% and the rate of inflation is expected to be 4.25%. The real interest rate is 1.5%. Suppose now that instead of 4.25%, the inflation rate unexpectedly reaches 5.5%. Who gains and who loses from this unanticipated inflation? (Mark all that apply.)

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Corinne Good · Answer 1

Lenders loose and borrowers gain

Explanation:

Whenever inflation increases the value of money falls and technically erodes interest rates (hence real interest rate falls although nominal rate stays the same)

In the scenario, if the inflation rate rises to 5.5%, then the real interest rate falls further from 1.5% to (5.75% - 5.5%) 0.25%, demonstrating that the lender is loosing further.

Contrarily, the borrower will technically be paying lesser interest to the lender because he will be paying lesser money in value to the lender both in terms of interest and principal