The nominal rate of interest is the interest earned before adjusting for inflation. The nominal interest rate is simple to recognize and calculate. It is the rate quoted on loans, deposits, bonds, and mutual funds. The nominal rate communicates to the investor the percentage of returns to expect from their investment. The higher the percentage, the better the returns. However, nominal interest does not take account of inflation.
Inflation erode the purchasing power of money. A high inflation rate will mean that any investment gains may not benefit the investor as the currency will have weakened. The real interest rate considers inflation rates. It tells the investor the actual gain from an investment after adjusting for inflation.
