inflate
verb
uk/ɪnˈfleɪt/ us [ I or T ]
to increase the value or price of something, or to become more valuable or expensive:
People who bought homes years ago have seen the values inflate and property taxes rise with the inflation.
Weak export sales have helped to inflate inventories.
[ T ]
to make a number, price, or value higher than it should be or than is reasonable, sometimes in order to deceive people:
Insurers fear that people will make up or inflate claims.
Compare
deflate
reflate