Investing term

Inflation

A plain-English definition of Inflation— what it means, how it works, and a simple example.

Quick answer

Inflation is the gradual rise in prices over time, which reduces the purchasing power of money, so the same amount buys less in the future.

If inflation is 6% a year, something that costs ₹100 today will cost about ₹106 next year. Your money has not changed, but what it can buy has shrunk.

This is why keeping all your savings in cash is risky over the long run. Money sitting idle loses real value every year, while investments that beat inflation preserve and grow your purchasing power.

For example, at 6% inflation, ₹10 lakh would have the buying power of only about ₹5.6 lakh in 10 years. To stay ahead, your investment returns need to exceed the inflation rate — the gap between them is your real return.

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A note on accuracy:this definition is for general education, not personalised financial or tax advice. Figures are illustrative and rules can change — confirm anything that affects a real decision.