The conversation around equity markets has shifted recently, from fear of rapid interest rate rises, to the conflict in Ukraine and its impact on inflation and growth. As a result, stagflation is now back on investors’ minds.
Stagflation refers to an unusual period of high inflation with low, or in extreme circumstances, negative economic growth. Many investors have never experienced such an environment. The most recent stagflation experience was back in the 1970s, where inflation rose to as much as 12 per cent, mostly caused by the oil price spike.