The Sim Kee Boon Institute (SKBI), together with the IMF - Singapore Regional Training Institute and DBS Bank, presented a live webinar on "Inflation and Cost of Living in Singapore and Asia: Post-Pandemic Implications" on 29 April 2021.

This two-part discussion sheds light on these issues from two angles. In part one, the panellists explore the potential for inflation overshooting in developed economies, after below-target-target outcomes for years. In the second part, the panellists look at emerging Asia, where a nascent recovery is underpinned by buoyant exports. Demand-pull inflation looks unlikely given the lack of large stimulus packages, possible delays in vaccination-driven normalization, and a distressed service sector. Still, Asia has traditionally imported inflation through food and energy channels; moreover, tight semiconductor, shipping, and consumer durables markets could boost costs this year. Understanding these opposing drivers affecting cost-of-living and inflation are critical for the design and effectiveness of fiscal and monetary policies.