It's part of the reason the gold standard was removed. Currency deflation made loans expensive, for two reasons: the time value of money was higher in 1933 than

It's part of the reason the gold standard was removed. Currency deflation made loans expensive, for two reasons: the time value of money was higher in 1933 than it was any point since; and since loans are in nominal dollars, deflation causes loans to be more expensive in real dollars, even disregarding interest. 1932 had -10.3% inflation -- this added an additional 10% interest to every loan, on top of the 17% prime rate (because why lend money?). A 27% effective loan rate is ruinous for business, especially agriculture. The gold standard was removed in 1933, interest rates dropped to 12%, inflation increased wildly to 0.3%, and people could borrow money again.