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War, ceasefires and the effect on inflation

Roger Eddowes

CREATED BY ROGER EDDOWES

Published: 16/04/2026 @ 09:00AM

#WarAndInflation #CeasefiresAndPrices #EnergyPricesAndInflation #SupplyChainsAndPrices #WagesAndCostOfLiving

War can push up prices fast, while ceasefires often calm them without fixing everything. In this blog post, I want to look at the effect on inflation, from energy prices and supply chains to wages, the cost of living, and what happens when markets start guessing again ...

The effect on inflation of war and ceasefires is a crucial aspect to consider in economic analysis

The effect on inflation of war and ceasefires is a crucial aspect to consider in economic analysis

When conflict threatens shipping lanes, pipelines or power plants, businesses face higher costs almost immediately, and those costs are rarely absorbed for long. They are passed on quickly, which is why households feel the cost of living rising even before headline inflation fully catches up.

The mechanism is not mysterious!

One of the biggest causes of inflation is supply chain disruption, and war is an expert at creating exactly that. Oil, gas and fertiliser become more expensive to transport, insurers raise premiums, and retailers pay more to get goods into shops.

Even countries far from the battlefield can be affected because modern trade is interconnected and energy prices do not respect borders.

Ceasefires usually help by removing the most immediate fear premium from markets. Traders relax, shipping routes reopen, and energy prices cool. That said, the effect on inflation is not always fully reversed, as companies may have already locked in higher contracts, slowly repaired supply chains, or kept prices elevated to rebuild margins.

Peace can certainly cool the flames, but it
does not always put out the fire!

That is why economists often treat ceasefires as inflation relief rather than as inflation cures. If a war has lasted long enough, businesses will have changed their behaviour, households will have adjusted their spending, and wage demands may have risen to protect real incomes.

The effect on inflation then becomes a second-round story, shaped not only by barrels of oil but also by expectations, bargaining power, and whether firms expect higher prices to persist.

In Britain, this matters especially because we import so much food and fuel that they directly affect the domestic price basket. A rise in shipping costs, a jump in domestic gas prices, or a prolonged period of high oil prices can all keep inflation stubborn even after the headlines improve. A ceasefire may lessen the immediate shock, yet still leave the Bank of England watching for signs that the effect on inflation is lingering through wages and services.

The longer the uncertainty lasts, the more
careful central banks have to be!

If markets believe a ceasefire will hold, rate pressures can ease. If they suspect fighting could return, the effect on inflation may remain stubbornly elevated as firms build in a risk premium and households remain cautious. In the end, war raises inflation by squeezing supply and confidence, while ceasefires usually help restore both.

But the effect on inflation fades more slowly than the fighting itself.

Until next time ...


ROGER EDDOWES
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#WarAndInflation #CeasefiresAndPrices #EnergyPricesAndInflation #SupplyChainsAndPrices #WagesAndCostOfLiving

About Roger Eddowes ...

Roger Eddowes 

Roger trained at Edward Thomas Peirson & Sons in Market Harborough before working at Hartwell & Co, followed by Chancery, as a partner. He started Essendon Accounts and Tax with Helen Beaumont in 2014 as a general practitioner with a hands-on approach.

Roger loves getting his hands dirty, working with emerging, small-to-medium and family businesses to ensure they receive the best possible accountancy advice. Roger utilises an extensive network of business contacts to leverage the best guidance and practical solutions.

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