New Delhi, Nov. 1 -- Your bank balance may look safe while its buying power keeps falling. Small interest payments cannot protect savings when everyday prices rise faster. This makes idle cash less useful for meeting future expenses.

At 5.8% inflation, groceries, utility bills and other household costs become harder to manage. Food prices, supply changes and fuel costs add to this pressure.

India's household financial savings fell from Rs.22.57 lakh crore to Rs.21.69 lakh crore during 2025-26. That represents a decline of roughly 4%. Families face pressure to use savings or borrow for everyday needs.

Your real return measures interest earnings after allowing for inflation. Subtracting inflation from the interest rate gives a simple est...