There is definitely a correlation, at least recently, between availability of credit and the increase in commodity prices. One way to explain this is to look a

There is definitely a correlation, at least recently, between availability of credit and the increase in commodity prices. One way to explain this is to look at house prices, and how real-estate agents 'value' these. They will value a property based on the past value of this property, the general increase in price levels since the last sell, and the price of recently sold properties in the area. Properties are not homogeneous, however the 'value' of all properties in a given area will be affected by the price changes of those being bought/sold.