Inflation Expectations 2026: How Consumer and Business Forecasts Are Shaping the Next Phase of Price Stability
Introduction: The Invisible Engine of Inflation In 2021, inflation surged. In 2022–2024, central banks slammed the brakes with historic rate hikes. By late 2025, headline inflation in the U.S., Eurozone, and UK had cooled to 2.3–2.8%—nearing target. Yet policymakers remain on high alert. Why? Because inflation expectations 2026—the public’s belief about where prices will go…