(Image credit: Getty Images) In a modern economic system, some level of inflation is expected and largely unavoidable. Population growth increases demand. Fiscal spending injects money into the economy. Even productivity gains, while beneficial, can lead to higher consumption, which feeds back into pricing pressures. Because of its impact on everyday life, inflation is a major concern for policymakers. It affects housing affordability, food costs, transportation and overall living standards. Left unchecked, it can erode purchasing power and contribute to economic instability. For investors, inflation can eat into their real returns. While nominal returns are the headline numbers you see — the percentage gain of an investment over time — real returns adjust for inflation, reflecting what your money can actually buy after prices rise. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed investor.…