Answer:
Since the real rate of interest is negative, this means that the purchasing power of the savings have decreased over the year.
Explanation:
Data provided:
Interest rates = 7.85 %
The rate of inflation = 12.3 %
Now,
The Real interest rate is calculated as :
Real interest rate = Nominal interest rate - Inflation rate
on substituting the respective values, we get
Real interest rate = 7.85% - 12.3%
Or
The real interest rate = - 4.45%
Here,
Since the real rate of interest is negative, this means that the purchasing power of the savings have decreased over the year.