The deflationary periods in the 1800s correlate exactly with economic shocks during that time, especially the panic of 1837 and the Long Depression. If you think deflation is associated with growth you are simply wrong.
"The Great Deflation or the Great Sag refers to the period from 1870 until 1890 in which world prices of goods, materials and labor decreased.This had a negative effect on established industrial economies such as Great Britain while simultaneously allowing incredible growth in the United States which was just beginning to industrialize. Deflation has historically been more associated with recession, than growth, but this is one of the few sustained periods of deflationary growth in the history of the United States."
"Deflation is almost invariably a sign of economic distress."
Perhaps deflation isn't traditionally associated with growth, but it clearly can be and has been in history. Note 'one of the few'. Deflationary growth isn't that rare of a phenomenon in history, though its rarity will be inversely proportional to the prevalence of central banking, monetary expansion, and economic authoritarianism. The market's had an uphill battle.
In general, deflations associated with recessions will also be associated with reckless monetary expansion. Including this form of deflation in statistics can be misleading. Its cause is entirely different from the cause of gradual, moderate deflation as the natural result of an expanding economy with limited currency.
I feel like you're being pedantic. The key point is that the causal relationship between the deflationary periods and the associated recessions is in doubt.
