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

Grant has been a well-established critic of the Fed’s propensity to tolerate inflation for some time and in particular he condemns the purchasing power that has been lost since 2020, because of the Fed’s policies.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

Here’s one way to guard against a loss of purchasing power.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

They aren’t yet a complete solution if you want to protect your purchasing power for, say, the next 30 years.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Now, those adults have purchasing power to buy tickets or subscribe to streaming platforms.

From Barron's • Apr. 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