purchasing power

American  

noun

1. Also called buying power.  the ability to purchase goods and services.

2. the value of money in terms of what it can buy at a specified time compared to what it could buy at some period established as a base.

   the purchasing power of the dollar.

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Etymology

Origin of purchasing power

First recorded in 1815–25

Example Sentences

Even a small change in mortgage rates can affect a buyer’s purchasing power.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026

Eve symbolized beauty and promised consumers the same results through their purchasing power.

From Salon • May 17, 2026

While this approach simplifies planning, it can miss important differences in how inflation actually affects retiree budgets and may understate the real pressure on long-term purchasing power.

From MarketWatch • May 13, 2026

"Both give relatively positive signals about the health of discretionary spending, despite the hit to consumers' purchasing power from higher gasoline prices," said Thomas Ryan, North America economist at Capital Economics.

From BBC • May 8, 2026

The day he learned that he was terminally ill was the day he lost interest in his purchasing power.

From "Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom