an argument can be made that low inflation is structural and will remain low unless we see a pickup in wage growth around the world. Corporate margins and profits are at an all time high but that's not translating into wages. There's still underemployment and you also have e-commerce squeezing retail prices. Add to that automation taking people out of the workforce and just maybe inflation stays at an acceptable level.
I agree with you though. I think there will be a pick up in inflation this year but from a pretty low base. And with at least 3 interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve inflation should be contained in the short to medium term.
RE: Economist: Inflation in 2018