If you want an answer to that question and more, listen to Andrew Gause. He is on for two hours on Saturdays and one hour of wednesdays. It is a real eye opener to the actual working behind the scenes. http://www.oneradionetwork.com/moneyfinance/the-real-world-of-money-with-andrew-gause-the-beginning-of-massive-inflation-october-19-2011/