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Title: Small Price Responses to Large Demand Shocks

Author(s): Etienne Gagnon and J David L�pez-Salido

Publication Date: July 2015

Keyword(s): Demand shocks, inflation, labor conflicts, mass population displacement, sales and severe weather events

Programme Area(s): Monetary Economics and Fluctuations

Abstract: We study the pricing response of U.S. supermarkets to large demand shocks triggered by labor conflicts, mass population relocation, and shopping sprees around major snowstorms and hurricanes. We find that these large swings in demand have, at best, modest effects on the level of retail prices, consistent with flat short- to medium-term supply curves. This finding holds even when shocks are highly persistent and even though stores adjust prices frequently. We also uncover evidence that retailers with radically different demand shocks nonetheless seek to match their local competitors' pricing movements and recourse to sales and promotions.

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Bibliographic Reference

Gagnon, E and L�pez-Salido, J. 2015. 'Small Price Responses to Large Demand Shocks'. London, Centre for Economic Policy Research. https://cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=10725