It has become increasingly clear that the United States must find methods to control inflation, probably the single problem that most worries the average American. President Jimmy Carter noted that inflation is the cruelest tax that anyone can pay. Many people agree with that sentiment, arguing that the persistent decline in the dollars purchasing power hurts people directly because products cost more, and also causes a kind of psychological damage. Recent polls have shown that the average American, far from being optimistic, expects prices to rise to ever higher rates. In the short run this has caused consumers to maintain their levels of spending with the conviction that it is better to buy this year rather than next. But the question is: how long can this go on?