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

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

As I’ve written before, one of the best ways to guard against a loss of purchasing power is with Treasury inflation-protected securities, or TIPS.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

If inflation averages 2% to 3% a year, your purchasing power erodes over time.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026

Preserve your purchasing power and keep an eye on your tax brackets.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 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