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Are Markups Driving the Ups and Downs of Inflation?

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How much impact have price markups for goods and services had on the recent surge and the subsequent decline of inflation? Since 2021, markups have risen substantially in a few industries such as motor vehicles and petroleum. However, aggregate markups—which are more relevant for overall inflation—have generally remained flat, in line with previous economic recoveries over the past three decades. These patterns suggest that markup fluctuations have not been a main driver of the ups and downs of inflation during the post-pandemic recovery.

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  • Sylvain Leduc & Huiyu Li & Zheng Liu, 2024. "Are Markups Driving the Ups and Downs of Inflation?," FRBSF Economic Letter, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, vol. 2024(12), pages 1-5, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedfel:98222
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    1. Andrew Glover & Jose Mustre-del-Rio & Alice von Ende-Becker, 2023. "How Much Have Record Corporate Profits Contributed to Recent Inflation?," Economic Review, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, vol. 0(no.1), pages 1-13, January.
    2. Isabella M. Webe & Evan Wasner, 2023. "Sellers’ inflation, profits and conflict: why can large firms hike prices in an emergency?," Review of Keynesian Economics, Edward Elgar Publishing, vol. 11(2), pages 183-213, April.
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    1. Weber, Isabella & Wasner, Evan & Lang, Markus & Braun, Benjamin & Klooster, Jens van’t, 2025. "Implicit coordination in sellers’ inflation: how cost shocks facilitate price hikes," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 128231, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    2. Fabio Parlapiano, 2025. "The pass—through of cost shocks to firms' prices and profits," Temi di discussione (Economic working papers) 1501, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    3. Fabio Parlapiano, 2025. "The pass-through of cost shocks to firm's prices and the impact on value added," IFC Bulletins chapters, in: Bank for International Settlements (ed.), Leveraging corporates' financial statements for policy insights, volume 65, Bank for International Settlements.

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