Asset classes from oil (NYSEArca: USO) to small cap stocks (NYSEArca: IWM) and nearly everything in between went south. Deflation Threat - A Simple Concept Government spending and money printing has been identified as key causes for an alleged inflationary environment. The Europe (NYSEArca: FEZ) debt debacle reminds us how vital cash is - that's why the European Central Bank and the IMF made $1 trillion available for entire governments.