What term describes the decrease in the value of physical property due to the passage of time?

The term that accurately describes the decrease in the value of physical property due to the passage of time is depreciation. Depreciation is a concept commonly used in accounting and finance to account for the loss of value of tangible assets over time. This can occur due to factors such as wear and tear, obsolescence, and the overall aging of the asset.

For example, machinery in a factory may lose value as it is used over the years, and this loss in value is systematically tracked through depreciation. This accounting method allows businesses to allocate the cost of an asset over its useful life, reflecting its declining value in financial statements.

Other terms like depletion, inflation, and recession pertain to different economic concepts. Depletion refers to the reduction of resources over time, especially in natural resources such as oil or minerals. Inflation is related to the general increase in prices and decrease in the purchasing power of money. Recession pertains to an economic decline characterized by a decrease in GDP and economic activity. None of these concepts specifically address the decrease in value of physical property over time like depreciation does.