How does inflation influence bond prices and real yields?

• A. Higher expected inflation lowers real yields; nominal yields rise to compensate; bond prices fall.
• B. Higher expected inflation raises real yields and bond prices rise
• C. Inflation expectations have no effect on bond prices or yields
• D. Real yields rise while nominal yields fall

Answer: (C)

Inflation expectations show up in nominal interest rates through the inflation premium. The nominal yield on a bond is roughly the sum of the real yield and expected inflation (the Fisher relationship). When investors expect higher inflation, the inflation premium increases, so nominal yields rise. Higher yields mean bonds must offer more cash flow relative to price, so bond prices fall.

The real yield component—what you earn after removing inflation—comes from real factors like growth, risk, and liquidity. It doesn’t automatically move up just because inflation expectations rise; it’s driven by real economic conditions rather than the inflation outlook alone.

So inflation expectations do affect bond prices and nominal yields, but they do not directly force real yields to rise.