Suppose Michelle saves money at an interest rate of $5\mathrm{.}5\%.$ If she expects the inflation rate to be $2\mathrm{.}5\%,$ but the actual inflation rate is $3\mathrm{.}0\%.$ In terms of purchasing power, Michelle is $\_\_\_\_\_$ off than expected.

Question $21$ options:

better

worse

neither better nor worse