Disinflation

Disinflation

A decrease in the rate of inflation.

Disinflation

A situation in which the inflation rate decreases, but does not reverse. For example, disinflation occurs when the inflation rate goes from 5% to 2%. Importantly, it is not deflation when the inflation rate becomes negative. Disinflation is considered a normal and healthy part of a business cycle.

disinflation

A slowdown in the rate of inflation. A drop in the inflation rate from 3% in one year to 2% in the next year is an example of disinflation. On an overall basis, disinflation is good for security prices, but it can be painful for individual companies that have made investment and borrowing decisions based upon a belief that a high rate of inflation would continue. See also inflation.

Disinflation.

Disinflation is a slowdown in the rate of price increases that historically occurs during a recession, when the supply of goods is greater than the demand for them.

Unlike deflation, however, when prices for goods actually drop, disinflation prices do not usually fall, but the rate of inflation becomes negligible.

disinflation

a fall in the general price level, frequently accompanied by a reduction in the level of national income (DEFLATION). A disinflation is often deliberately brought about by the authorities in order to combat INFLATION and to eliminate a BALANCE OF PAYMENTS deficit. Instruments of disinflationary policy include fiscal measures (e.g. tax increases), monetary measures (e.g. higher interest rates), and prices and income controls. See FISCAL POLICY, MONETARY POLICY, PRICES AND INCOME POLICY, INFLATIONARY GAP, INTERNAL-EXTERNAL BALANCE MODEL.