inflation

Everyday

1. A rise in prices over time, so the same money buys less. tree →
2. Filling something with air or gas so it gets bigger, like a balloon or a tyre. tree →
3. Making something seem bigger or more important than it is (an inflation of the truth). tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life and the news, inflation means prices going up: a bag of sweets costs more than it did. In maths lessons it shows up as percentages: inflation of 3% means 100 dollars of goods now costs 103. In science and PE, inflation is pumping air into balls and tyres. Phrases: high inflation, low inflation, the rate of inflation, keep up with inflation.

Examples

• Because of inflation, a loaf of bread costs more than it used to. tree →
• Gran says her pocket money bought much more before inflation. tree →
• The rate of inflation is 2 percent this year. tree →
• Check the inflation of the bike tyres before you ride. tree →
• The inflation of the bouncy castle took five minutes. tree →
• Wages that do not keep up with inflation buy less each year. tree →
• If inflation is 10%, something that cost 50 pounds now costs 55 pounds. tree →

Note

Uncountable: say "inflation", not "an inflation" or "inflations". Verb: inflate; adjective: inflatable (an inflatable boat). Opposite in prices: deflation (prices falling). For numbers: inflation of x% means multiply the old price by (100 + x)/100. Inflation does not mean everything doubles; it is usually a small percentage each year.