Answer:
inflation
Explanation:
Inflation is the increase of prices of goods or services in an economy. In inflation the price of products are relatively high than the earlier price of the products. Inflation reduces the purchasing power of humans. It also reduces the value of money. One has to spend more in order to purchase something as compared to earlier.
In the context, inflation reduces the purchasing power of Melanie to buy a house.
Hence the answer is --Inflation.