The only reason rent would decrease in response to economic conditions would be if they started building tons and tons of houses and supply began to outpace demand. OR, your country were experiencing deflation, which is bad
The only way I got that to happen is by putting in my two-month notice and then signing up for the exact same unit when they listed it. Didn't even have to moveout and they ended up charging us the lower rate for the two weeks between our current lease ending and the new one starting.
Were you pretty sure the price would go down, or did you just roll the dice? I've watched prices at the places I've lived, and they only ever seem to go up. As in, I'm paying $1600, about to get raised to $1800, and the unit next door is listed for $1900. But one place used RealPage, and I would bet the other one used something like that too.