INFLATION (1) Inflation is the rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services rises over a period of time. (2) Inflation can be divided into two categories: (a) demand-pull inflation and (b) cost-push inflation. a) In demand-pull inflation price increase results from an excess of demand over supply for the economy as a whole. It occurs when critical factors of production are being fully utilized but supply cannot expand further to meet new levels of demand. b) Cost-push inflation