If the Fed increases total reserves by $100 billion and the reserve requirement is 0.10, we can expect prices to rise by approximately 2%.
How to solve for the amount that prices would rise
Increase in reserves = $100 billion
Reserve requirement = 0.10
The increase in the money supply can be calculated as follows:
Increase in money supply = Increase in reserves / Reserve requirement
Increase in money supply = $100 billion / 0.10
Increase in money supply = $1,000 billion
The expected increase in the price level can be calculated as follows:
Price level increase per $100 billion = 0.2%
Price level increase = (Change in money supply / $100 billion) x Price level increase per $100 billion
Price level increase = ($1,000 billion / $100 billion) x 0.2%
Price level increase = 2%
Therefore, if the Fed increases total reserves by $100 billion and the reserve requirement is 0.10, we can expect prices to rise by approximately 2%.