The only thing we have to fear is not knowing what to be afraid of

Bob CollinsBob Collins Mar 20, 2009
2

You don’t have to watch The Daily Show and its occasional snips of CNBC’s poor prognostication to marvel at the economists’ ability to confound us. You need only look at some of the headlines this week alone.

Let’s take deflation and inflation, for example, and the occasional reports of what we should fear. We’ll start today and work our way back.

March 20

Fed announcement spurs inflation concern. (Bloomberg)

March 19

So long, deflation (Globe and Mail)

March 18

Deflation: Too late to stop it when we experience it (American Enterprise Institute)

U.S. inflation rises (Reuters)

March 17

Lengthy deflation ahead (American Daily)

Deflation a threat to U.S. economy (Wall St. Journal)

March 16

Paul Krugman: U.S., Europe fear deflation risk (Forbes)

March 11

Pimco predicts inflation (Bloomberg)