Eugene Kiernan: Inflation and high prices? Probably. But don’t panic, it’s temporary

Many economists are raising alarm bells in the US over how high prices will go and for how long, but companies themselves are taking a more sanguine view

Coca-Cola, one of the world’s largest companies, with over 500 brands including Coke and Fanta, predicts some pipeline price pressures mainly in commodities and materials such as corn syrup and packaging

As the US economy continues to recover at pace, the hot topic is now inflation.

We will see higher prices. But will they be “temporarily a little higher”, as Jerome Powell, head of the US Federal Reserve feels; or a ”flashing red alarm” in the words of Larry Summers, the former US Treasury secretary? The difference matters.

Those with a relaxed view on inflation believe there is ample spare capacity in the system to ease ...