A type of risk that arises from the negative effect of inflation on purchasing  power. Inflation is a upward movement of the general level of price. Inflation reduces purchasing power, which is a risk for investors in cash equivalents such as fixed-income securities and instruments. Such investments involves purchasing power risk as holders receive a fixed rate of interest. The main concern for investors holding cash equivalents is that inflation will erode their income generated from such assets.

Purchasing power risk arises from the possibility that the future real value (after inflation) of an investment, asset, or income stream (cash flows) will erode over time by inflation.

Purchasing power risk is also known as inflation risk or inflationary risk.