deflation
Falling price levels
Deflation is a decrease in the general price level of goods and services—the opposite of inflation.
When deflation occurs, money gains purchasing power over time: During the deflation of the 1930s, prices fell but so did wages.
Economists generally consider mild inflation healthier than deflation, which can spiral as consumers delay purchases expecting lower prices.
Deflation also means the release of air from something inflated: the deflation of a balloon.
Figuratively, it describes the puncturing of confidence, enthusiasm, or ego: His criticism caused an immediate deflation of her excitement.
Hole from penetration
- flattenMake level or smooth
- leakEscape through a breach
- tireLose strength or energy
- balloonInflatable rubber sac
collapse · bladder · pneumatic · valve · hissing · sagging · limp · emptying
Stagnant growth meets inflation
- recessionProlonged economic decline
- depressionProlonged low state
- monetary policyCentral bank economic controls
- central bankNational currency management institution
interest rates · purchasing power · consumer prices · CPI · GDP · quantitative easing · austerity · price stability
Reduction in size
- compressionForcing into smaller space
- reductionMaking something smaller
- diminishingBecoming progressively less
- decreaseBecome or make smaller
subsidence · compacting · condensing · collapsing · shriveling · withering · narrowing · tightening
Loss of confidence
- disappointmentSadness from unmet expectations
- letdownFailure to satisfy expectations
- humiliationLoss of dignity
- dejectionState of lowness
demoralization · crestfallen · disillusionment · wounded pride · embarrassment · chastened · humbled · put-down
puncture
Hole from penetration
balloon · collapse · bladder · pneumatic · valve · hissing · sagging · limp · emptying · airless
stagflation
Stagnant growth meets inflation
- recessionProlonged economic decline
- depressionProlonged low state
- monetary policyCentral bank economic controls
central bank · interest rates · purchasing power · consumer prices · CPI · GDP · quantitative easing · austerity · price stability · economic contraction
contraction
Reduction in size
- compressionForcing into smaller space
- reductionMaking something smaller
- diminishingBecoming progressively less
decrease · subsidence · compacting · condensing · collapsing · shriveling · withering · narrowing · tightening
discouragement
Loss of confidence
- disappointmentSadness from unmet expectations
- letdownFailure to satisfy expectations
- humiliationLoss of dignity
dejection · demoralization · crestfallen · disillusionment · wounded pride · embarrassment · chastened · humbled · put-down · rebuff
- stock marketstock, shares, stocks, trading, stock market
- Depression EraGreat Depression, Hooverville, breadline, dust storms, soup kitchen
- Interwar EconomicsGreat Depression, interwar period, hyperinflation, gold standard, New Deal
- financesmoney, affluence, cash, bankrupt, income
- economicssupply and demand, GDP, GNP, gross domestic product, gross national product
- economyGDP, money, GNP, market, banking sector
deflationinflation
Sustained price level increase
hyperinflation · rising prices · price inflation · reflation · boom
deflationinflation
Sustained price level increase
inflating · pumping up · expansion · filling · pressurization
deflationelation
Intense triumphant joy
triumph · exhilaration · encouragement · exuberance · puffing up