# market-price-fluctuation

## Definition

The temporary and occasional variations in the price of commodities in the market, which can fluctuate significantly from year to year due to changes in supply and demand conditions. Smith notes that while the average or ordinary price of corn may remain stable for long periods, the temporary price can frequently be double one year what it was the year before, or fluctuate dramatically within short time frames.

## Source Chapter

Book 1, Chapter 5: "OF THE REAL AND NOMINAL PRICE OF COMMODITIES, OR OF THEIR PRICE IN LABOUR, AND THEIR PRICE IN MONEY."

## Context

Smith discusses market price fluctuations while contrasting them with the more stable long-term trends in real value. He uses the example of corn prices fluctuating from five-and-twenty to fifty shillings the quarter to illustrate how temporary market conditions can cause dramatic price changes, while the real value of corn rents remains more stable over longer periods.

## Economic Domain

Exchange

## Smith's Original Wording

"In the mean time, the temporary and occasional price of corn may frequently be double one year of what it had been the year before, or fluctuate, for example, from five-and-twenty to fifty shillings the quarter."

## Modern Interpretation

Market price fluctuation represents the inherent volatility of market economies, where prices can change dramatically due to temporary supply and demand imbalances. In modern terms, this concept relates to commodity price volatility, business cycle fluctuations, and the importance of distinguishing between short-term market noise and long-term value trends. It underlies modern discussions of price stability, inflation targeting, and the role of monetary policy in managing economic volatility.