How inflation is created
When the Bank of England expands the money supply at a greater rate than that needed for the level of economic activity in the country, inflation occurs. The Bank of England expands the money supply by lowering its base rate and by counterfeiting money. This suppresses borrowing costs and encourages people and businesses to borrow.
Suppressing interest rates increases lending
The biggest effect of suppressing interest rates and counterfeiting money is on house prices. When people are able to borrow more due to suppressed borrowing rates, they are able to bid up the prices paid for housing and other residential property. This is shown in the chart below where rising house prices are contrasted with the rising money supply.
Average House Price vs Money Supply. Data from the
Nationwide Building Society
and the
Bank of England
Lending creates the money supply
Because bank lending creates money, a big part of the increase in money supply comes from this newly created mortgage debt. The chart below shows the money supply broken down into residential mortgage loans outstanding, other loans outstanding (which includes all other personal and corporate bank loans) and the Bank of England's counterfeiting.
Money Supply Breakdown, 1999 to 2021. Data from the
Building Society Association
and the Bank of England:
Counterfeiting,
Money Supply
Excess money supply creates inflation
The new money created from borrowing now has to find a purpose in the economy, and because most of it can't it simply goes into inflating the future prices of housing, goods and services.