While I was overseas NikonUSA introduced a set of rebates on some popular lenses (other Nikon distributors have different discount, bundling, and rebate programs running). Basically the US rebates are "buy a DSLR and a lens and get a rebate." US$400 with a 70-200mm, US$300 with a 24-70mm, US$250 with an 18-200mm, and US$200 with a 24-120mm. You can combine lenses to get up to US$700 rebates. This program ends March 27th.
The March 27th date isn't a coincidence. Nikon appears to be aggressively pushing inventory prior to the close of their fiscal year (March 31st). With the start of their new fiscal year on April 1st, the investor pressure to produce good looking business numbers tapers for a bit.
It very well may be that Nikon is trying to once again micro-manage releases and inventory to manage their financial bottom line (e.g. make it look more stable and growing at a constant rate rather than volatile). The 85mm revision, for instance, has been ready for a quite a bit according to my sources, but I'll bet you we'll see it in the first quarter of Nikon's fiscal year (i.e. April to June), and probably earlier in the quarter rather than later. We also haven't had a new non-pro DSLR body since the D3000 (which in itself has been a sales disappointment), so I'll bet we get something in the high-Coolpix to sub-D300 range during this quarter, too. Finally, the D700s is likely in this coming quarter, as well.