The inflation tax is: cost of living adjustments, or COLAs. cost of living adjustments, or COLAs. the decreases in the real value of money held by the public caused by inflation. the decreases in the real value of money held by the public caused by inflation. the result of the indexing wages to inflation. the result of the indexing wages to inflation. the increase in income taxes caused by inflation. the increase in income taxes caused by inflation. the increase in the real value of money held by the public caused by inflation.