Inflation refers to the general rise in prices of goods and services over time, which leads to a decrease in the purchasing power of money. This means that each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services than before. Inflation is measured by tracking price changes in a broad range of products and is often reported as an annual percentage. In the context of cybersecurity and technology services, companies may cite inflation as a reason for increasing subscription or service fees, as their operational costs rise along with general price levels.