Suppose that people expect inflation to equal 6 percent, but in fact, prices rise by 4 percent. Indicate whether this unexpectedly low inflation rate helps or hurts each of the following groups or individuals.
Helps
Hurts
The government
A homeowner with a fixed-rate mortgage
A union worker in the second year of a labor contract
A college that has invested some of its endowment in government bonds that are not indexed Treasury bonds
True or False: Inflation hurts borrowers and helps lenders because borrowers must pay a higher rate of interest.
A. True
B. False

The business cycle is the periodic but irregular up-and-down movement in economic activity, measured by fluctuations in real gross domestic product (gdp) and other macroeconomic variables. a business cycle is typically characterized by four phases—recession, recovery, growth, and decline—that repeat themselves over time. economists note, however, that complete business cycles vary in length. the duration of business cycles can be anywhere from about two to twelve years, with most cycles averaging six years in length. some business analysts use the business cycle model and terminology to study and explain fluctuations in business inventory and other individual elements of corporate operations. but the term "business cycle" is still primarily associated with larger (industry-wide, regional, national, or even international) business trends.

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