From Longman Business Dictionary
deflationde·fla·tion /ˌdiːˈfleɪʃən, dɪ-/ noun [uncountableU] ECONOMICS when a government reduces demand for goods and services by raising interest rates and taxes, limiting wage increases, or reducing government spending, or a combination of theseGovernments responded to the loss of competitiveness by deflation and incomes policies.
—deflationary adjectiveadjThe government was unwilling to introduce adequate deflationary policies.
→ asset deflation → currency deflation → compare disinflation, inflation