Understanding Deflation: Causes, Effects & Economic Insights

The World’s Most Famous Case of Deflation

During the spring of 2015, the United Kingdom experienced a brief period of deflation. According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, "The U.K.'s history of sticky and hard-to-control inflation suggests that a short period of falling prices will be taken as a reprieve for consumers, not as a signal to defer purchases." Why might consumers see deflation as a "signal to defer purchases"? Shouldn't lower prices cause consumers to buy more, not less? Briefly explain. | Numerade