How does inflation affect purchasing power?

Inflation is defined as the rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services rises, eroding purchasing power over time. As prices increase due to inflation, the same amount of money will buy fewer goods and services than it did before. For instance, if you could buy a loaf of bread for $2 last year, and due to inflation that price rises to $2.20 this year, you will need more money to purchase the same item. This decline in the value of currency directly impacts consumers, as they can afford less with the same amount of money. Therefore, as inflation rises, purchasing power effectively decreases.