31 CFR § 359.12 - What happens in deflationary conditions?

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t31/s359.12"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "31 CFR § 359.12 - What happens in deflationary conditions?"
title_number: 31
title_name: "Money and Finance: Treasury"
section_number: "359.12"
section_name: "What happens in deflationary conditions?"
chapter_name: "FISCAL SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY"
subchapter_number: "A"
subchapter_name: "BUREAU OF THE FISCAL SERVICE"
part_number: "359"
part_name: "OFFERING OF UNITED STATES SAVINGS BONDS, SERIES I"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "5 U.S.C. 301; 12 U.S.C. 391; 31 U.S.C. 3105."
regulatory_source: "67 FR 64278, Oct. 17, 2002, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "359"
---


# 359.12 What happens in deflationary conditions?

In certain deflationary situations, the semiannual inflation rate may be negative. Negative semiannual inflation rates will be used in the same way as positive semiannual inflation rates. However, if the semiannual inflation rate is negative to the extent that it completely offsets the fixed rate of return, the redemption value of a Series I bond for any particular month will not be less than the value for the preceding month.