inflationary spiral
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of inflationary spiral
First recorded in 1930–35
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
Barcelona, stung by the loss of Neymar, quickly found itself trapped in an inflationary spiral.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 20, 2022
Today, the inflationary spiral which had raised the cost of living by 36 percent between 1946 and 1952 has all but ceased and the value of the dollar virtually stabilized.
From State of the Union Address by Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
