inflationary spiral

American  

noun

Economics.

1. spiral7

---

inflationary spiral British  

noun

1. the situation in which price and income increases may each induce further rises in the other

---

Etymology

Origin of inflationary spiral

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

inflationary spiral

While the risk of a rapid inflationary spiral in France remains limited—given subdued price growth before the conflict began—a prolonged war is only expected to worsen the country’s economic and financial instability, further undermining confidence.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 27, 2026

In normal times, the Fed won’t change its interest rate policy based on higher energy prices, which tend to fade without causing an inflationary spiral.

From MarketWatch ● May 19, 2026

That began to change in 1950, when the process of paying for war expenses had triggered an inflationary spiral.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2025

Natural gas prices hit multi-year highs and oil nearly $140 a barrel, not far from an all-time record, turbocharging a post-pandemic inflationary spiral that caused a cost-of-living crisis in many countries.

From Reuters ● Dec. 13, 2022

While the devaluation is likely to help Mexican exporters, whose products are now cheaper, it also raises the specter of an inflationary spiral if domestic producers increase their prices and workers demand wage hikes.

From The 1995 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency