reáljövedellem

Realjövedelem, often translated as real income, represents the purchasing power of an individual's or household's income. It is calculated by adjusting nominal income, the actual amount of money received, for the effects of inflation. Inflation, the general increase in prices and decrease in the purchasing value of money, erodes the value of nominal income over time. Therefore, real income provides a more accurate measure of how much goods and services a person can actually buy.

To calculate real income, nominal income is divided by a price index, such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The CPI measures the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services. If nominal income increases by 5% and inflation is 3%, then real income has increased by approximately 2%. Conversely, if nominal income grows slower than inflation, real income will decrease, meaning that despite receiving more money, the individual can afford fewer goods and services. Tracking real income is crucial for understanding changes in living standards and economic well-being. It helps economists and policymakers assess the true impact of economic policies and income trends on the population.