Chronic inflation is characterized by much higher price increases than ordinary inflation, at annual rates of 10 to 30 per cent in some industrial nations and even 100 per cent or more in a few developing countries. Chronic inflation tends to become permanent and ratchets upwards to even higher levels as economic distortions and negative expectations accumulate. To accommodate chronic inflation, normal economic activities are disrupted: consumers buy goods and services to avoid even higher prices; property speculation increases; businesses concentrate on short-term investments; incentives to acquire savings, insurance policies, pensions, and long-term bonds are reduced because inflation erodes their future purchasing power; governments rapidly expand spending in anticipation of inflated revenues; and exporting nations suffer competitive trade disadvantages forcing them to turn to protectionism and arbitrary currency controls.

In the most extreme form, chronic price increases become hyperinflation, causing the entire economic system to break down.