deflation
fall in overall prices
Deflation happens when prices across the economy go down, not just one or two items.
deflation in [an economy]; a period/risk of deflation
- The central bank cut interest rates to prevent deflation.
- Years of weak demand pushed the economy into deflation.
- Deflation can make debts harder to repay because money becomes more valuable.
- During deflation, many prices go down.
- Deflation can be bad for people who owe money.
loss of air or gas
Deflation is when air comes out of something and it becomes smaller, flatter, or softer.
deflation of [a tire/balloon/airbag]; tire deflation
- The device detects sudden tire deflation and warns the driver.
- After the party, the slow deflation of the balloons left them lying on the floor.
- Controlled deflation of the life jacket is done by pressing the valve.
- The balloon's deflation was slow.
- The driver noticed tire deflation on the highway.
loss of confidence or excitement
A deflation of feelings is a drop from excitement or confidence to disappointment.
deflation of [hopes/confidence/ego]; deflation in [mood/enthusiasm]
- The missed penalty caused an immediate deflation of the crowd's excitement.
- After such strong early reviews, the poor opening weekend brought a sharp deflation of expectations.
- Her calm reply caused a visible deflation of his ego.
- The bad news caused a deflation of their hopes.
- He felt a deflation of confidence after the mistake.
wind removal of loose sediment
In geology, deflation is wind blowing away loose soil or sand.
wind deflation; deflation of [sediment/soil/sand]
- Wind deflation created shallow hollows in the desert surface.
- The stony pavement remained after deflation removed the finer sand.
- Researchers measured deflation of the dry lake bed during the windy season.
- Deflation can remove sand from a desert surface.
- Base: deflation
- Plural: deflation, deflations
asset-price deflation
1falling asset values
Asset-price deflation is when investments like homes or stocks lose value across a market.
- The housing crash led to severe asset-price deflation.
- Asset-price deflation reduced household wealth and made consumers more cautious.
- Analysts worried that falling share prices could turn into broader asset-price deflation.
debt deflation
1falling prices worsen debt
Debt deflation happens when falling prices make existing debts harder to repay.
- The financial crisis raised fears of debt deflation.
- Debt deflation can force households and businesses to sell assets at falling prices.
- Some economists argue that debt deflation made the downturn longer and more severe.
deflationary pressure
1forces pushing prices down
Deflationary pressure means something in the economy is pushing prices down.
- Lower energy costs added deflationary pressure to the economy.
- Weak consumer demand created deflationary pressures in the retail sector.
- The central bank said it was watching for signs of deflationary pressure.
deflationary spiral
1self-reinforcing price decline
A deflationary spiral is when falling prices make the economy weaker and prices keep falling.
- Policymakers acted quickly to stop the recession from becoming a deflationary spiral.
- Consumers delayed purchases because they expected lower prices, increasing the risk of a deflationary spiral.
- A deflationary spiral can be difficult to reverse once wages and spending start to fall.
grade deflation
1stricter grading and lower marks
Grade deflation means students receive lower grades because standards or grading are stricter.
- Students complained that grade deflation in the department hurt their graduate-school applications.
- The policy was meant to fight grade inflation, but critics said it created grade deflation.
- Some universities publish grading data to show whether grade deflation is a real problem.
wage deflation
1falling pay levels
Wage deflation means pay levels are going down.
- High unemployment created wage deflation in parts of the service sector.
- The company avoided layoffs, but workers faced wage deflation through pay cuts and fewer paid hours.
- Economists warned that wage deflation would reduce consumer spending.