Inflation is defined as a sustained increase in the general price level of goods and services in an economy over time. It can be caused by factors on both the demand side, such as an increase in money supply, and the supply side, such as a rise in production costs. Inflation is measured by indexes that track changes in consumer prices (CPI) or wholesale prices (WPI) over time. There are different views on the causes and solutions for inflation, with Keynesians focusing on demand management and monetarists emphasizing the role of money supply.