From Business Week
Prices Just Keep Plunging
Fears of deflation are growing as a profit squeeze prompts more cuts
Of course, some prices have been falling for years. That's especially true for computers, consumer electronics, and industrial goods such as steel. And price wars typically break out during recessions as vendors battle for consumers. But something new and troubling may be happening today. Excess capacity is growing around the world, particularly as products from low-wage China appear in more and more sectors. Meantime, demand in many industries is fizzling. In addition, the recent surge in productivity is encouraging the efficient to slash prices, forcing rivals to match their discounts or lose share.
A glut in goods and services is why many businesses lack the power to nudge prices higher. To be sure, many companies have cut back on capacity, shutting factories and offices and exiting markets. Yet the cuts haven't been enough, given current demand levels. Excess capacity exists in everything from telecom and aluminum smelting to banking and retail stores. And the rise of production in extremely low-cost countries, especially China, is exacerbating price pressures in an array of industries.