This is just a normal effect of their macroeconomic woes. Their money supply is contracting because despite building every bridge to nowhere they could no one wants to take out loans. They have a crushing burden of debt now having followed all the advice of those who argue for massive stimulus (though even though their stimulus programs have been massive the economists insist it isn't enough).<p>The only upside to a depression is that prices fall for those who still have jobs and this is just that coming home for people. If that means that prices everywhere have to fall then all the better. The market is trying to heal itself and correct the imbalances and the government really needs to start letting it.<p>It's not like anything they've done has done much good for anyone-outside the bridge to nowhere supported industries that is. I'm pretty sure we're going to see falling prices here for years to come too as the money supply continues to shrink.