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

In their 2013 study “Golden Dilemma,” they found that over extremely long periods — a century or more — gold does appear to maintain its purchasing power.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026

EY-Parthenon chief economist Gregory Daco added: "Household budgets are coming under mounting pressure from rising inflation and a softer income backdrop, while slower wage and job growth continue to weigh on purchasing power."

From Barron's • May 28, 2026

Incomes have grown faster than home prices, giving buyers a little more purchasing power.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026

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

From Salon • May 17, 2026

All of my research on Muslim purchasing power indicated that if we created a product that appealed to and satisfied the needs of Muslim consumers, the company would be successful.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad