Could Biden's spending plans push inflation even higher?

With President Joe Biden this week signing the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill and Congress now negotiating the $1.75 trillion Build Back Better plan, questions are being raised about whether an increase in government spending could drive up inflation. After all, the measures will funnel a substantial amount of federal funding into an economy already seeing the fastest rise in consumer prices in 30 years. 

Some economists say fears about the bills' impact on inflation are overblown. The main reason: Government spending would be spread over a number of years, beginning in 2022 — a point when supply-chain issues currently pushing up prices will likely have subsided.

"The timing is really important — that money will only start flowing into the economy maybe in the end of next year and in 2023 and on," said William Foster, vice president and senior credit officer at Moody's Investors Service. "We think inflation will moderate by the middle of next year. By then, the supply-chain issues will work themselves out."