if savings account interest rates are very low, then every dollar you deposit may earn little or almost no interest. at the same time, increasing prices of consumer goods mean that you can buy less with a dollar tomorrow than you could today. if you choose to save your money instead of spend it are you actually losing money?

Currently, as of february 2016, an american traveling in france would be by the exchange rate. the weakness of the euro and the strength of the us dollar means that items in france cost less to an american than they otherwise would. of course, if this trend reverses and the us dollar weakens and the euro strengthens, such as was happening in early 2008, an american traveling in france would have an adverse experience because items would cost relatively more.