When demand for goods and services exceeds supply, scarcity occurs, causing prices to rise in the economy. This can happen when there is high employment and incomes increase, which usually results in an increase in spending.
2. Cost-Push Inflation
When the cost of production increases (eg, wages, energy bills, cost of raw materials), firms may increase their prices to maintain their profit levels.
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3. Government-Induced Inflation The Government may increase VAT on goods or services or introduce new taxes like the carbon tax or a sugar tax, to discourage the use of items such as petrol or fizzy drinks. This will increase their prices.
If you are explaining any cause of inflation, ensure you include how each one causes price levels to rise “…this causes prices to rise due to…”.
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CLASS ACTIVITYINTRO ACTIVITY Key Skill: Explain what causes inflation
(a) Identify the category that had the highest percentage increase in price level in 2025. (b) Identify a category where the price level decreased in 2025.
(c) If restaurants and hotels costs rose because of an increase to the minimum wage, would this be an example of demand-pull or cost-push inflation? Explain your answer.