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Sunday Reading - A brief look at recessions

 

Market Downturns

 

 

 


A brief look at recessions

Stemming from the Latin word “recessus” (meaning “a retreat”), recessions are sustained periods of declining activity in a country’s economy. During a recession, unemployment rises while economic output falls across a large swath of industries. Recessions are inevitable in modern economies, with one occurring about every six to seven years.
 

One common definition of a recession is when a country logs two consecutive quarters of shrinking gross domestic product, but in practice, these economic phenomena are more complex.
 

The US has been through 34 recessions since 1854, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. But over time, they’ve become both shorter and less frequent. Since 1980, the US has only experienced six recessions.

... Read our full deep dive on recessions here.

 

Also, check out ... 

> Amid market downturns, some let their roots grow out—so-called "recession blondes." (More)

> The eight people who decide whether the US is in a recession. (More)

> Visualizing the trends of recessions and recoveries over 150 years. (More)

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