How should companies account for hyperinflationary economies?

21 June 2022 (updated 11 December 2023)

Global IFRS Institute | Uncertain times

Under IFRS^® Accounting Standards, judgement is needed to determine when to apply hyperinflationary accounting.

Hyperinflationary accounting under IAS 29 Financial Reporting in Hyperinflationary Economies is relevant for the:

• financial statements of companies reporting under the standards whose functional currencies are those of hyperinflationary economies; and
• consolidated financial statements of groups reporting under the Standards with foreign operations (e.g. a subsidiary, associate or joint arrangement) whose functional currencies are those of hyperinflationary economies.

Indicators of hyperinflation

Hyperinflation is indicated by the characteristics of an economy, which include but are not limited to the following.

• The general population prefers to keep its wealth in non-monetary assets or in a relatively stable foreign currency – amounts of local currency held are invested immediately to maintain purchasing power.
• The general population regards monetary amounts not in terms of the local currency but in terms of a relatively stable foreign currency – prices may be quoted in the stable currency.
• Sales and purchases on credit take place at prices that compensate for the expected loss of purchasing power during the credit period, even if the period is short.
• Interest rates, wages and prices are linked to a price index.
• The cumulative inflation rate over three years is approaching, or exceeds, 100 percent. [IAS 29.3]

Although the 100 percent numerical indicator is a key factor in identifying hyperinflation, it is not the only factor and should not be considered in isolation. Applying all of these factors could result in an economy being considered hyperinflationary when its three-year cumulative inflation rate is, for example, only 80 percent. IAS 29 is applied from the beginning of the reporting period in which the company identifies hyperinflation. [Insights 2.10.20.10–30] 

Management need to keep track of all economies that are hyperinflationary and apply IAS 29 when necessary.

Based on our assessment under IAS 29, we currently consider the following economies to be hyperinflationary.