Forecasting inflation gap persistence: Do financial sector professionals differ from nonfinancial sector ones?

Abstract

AbstractThe purpose of the present paper is to investigate forecasted inflation gap persistence using professionals' survey‐based data, differentiating between financial and nonfinancial sectors professionals. We derive the forecasted inflation gap persistence, and using a state‐dependent model, we estimate the nonlinear persistence coefficient of the inflation gap. We distinguish between the pre‐Great Moderation, Great Moderation, and Great Recession periods. Our main results indicate that although the estimates of persistence for gross domestic product inflation largely confirm the results obtained using a linear model, for consumer price index inflation, we find that there is strong evidence for state dependence and time variation. By and large, the results are consistent with the price stability policy pursued in the Great Moderation period and perceived disinflationary pressures during the Great Recession period.