Facts or feelings? The role of relatable narratives in shaping inflation expectations

Melina Ludolph, Giang Nghiem and Lena Tonzer

No 10/2026, IWH Discussion Papers from Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH)

Abstract: We examine whether combining factual information on inflation levels and forecasts with a narrative can persistently shape consumers' inflation expectations. In a preregistered randomized controlled trial with a representative sample of 3,000 German consumers, participants received either numerical or textual information about inflation rates, with or without an accompanying narrative. All treatments immediately lower inflation expectations, with numerical information eliciting stronger adjustments. Adding a narrative produces no additional immediate effect, confirming that it conveys no new information. However, only the combination of numerical information with a narrative yields a lasting reduction in inflation expectations and forecast uncertainty still observable after four weeks. Our results suggest that combining precise information with a narrative enhances information retention and can lead to more persistent shifts in consumers' beliefs. The effects are strongest when respondents perceive the narrative as relatable and emotionally engaging, and among those with low financial literacy and limited knowledge of inflation.

Keywords: central bank communication; inflation expectations; narratives (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D84 D91 E31 E58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-exp and nep-mon
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/341628/1/1973306573.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:iwhdps:341628

DOI: 10.18717/dpcam2-j667

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in IWH Discussion Papers from Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH) Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics ().