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

If you do live into your 80s or 90s — here’s hoping — those 3% hikes will help preserve your purchasing power.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 11, 2026

But what about the purchasing power of those savings?

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

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

Data published Thursday recorded a retreat in retail sales in April as consumers saw purchasing power decline.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 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