Monday 21 July 2008

You know you have inflation when .....

From CNN.com comes the news that Zimbabwe introduces $100 billion banknotes.

The article states
Zimbabwe started issuing large bank notes in December, starting with denominations of $250,000.

In January, the government issued bills in denominations of $1 million, $5 million, and $10 million -- and in May, it issued bills from $25 million and $50 million up to $25 billion and $50 billion.
This is because Zimbabwe has an
... official inflation rate now at 2.2 million percent.
The article also says
As high as they are, though, the bills still aren't enough to buy a loaf of bread. They can buy only four oranges.

The new note is equal to just one U.S. dollar.
The article goes on to explain that Gideon Gono, governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, has said
"The RBZ has noted with concern the unjustifiable and incessant general increases in prices of goods and services. It is therefore appealing to the business community to follow ethical business practices as well as take an interest in the plight of the general public,"
Why doesn't he "take an interest in the plight of the general public" and stop printing money?! Following "ethical business practices" is not the answer to hyper-inflation, stopping the printing of money is.

(HT: Carpe Diem)

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