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What Is a Recession? We Explain Here

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A recession is what happens when there are two consecutive quarters of negative growth. Recessions generally occur when there is a widespread drop in spending.

If a recession develops into a depression its caused by a number of circumstances. Among those are the extent and quality of credit extended during the previous period of prosperity, the amount of speculation permitted, the ability of monetary and fiscal policy to reverse the downward trend, and the amount of excess productive capacity in existence.

In economics, a recession is a business cycle contraction when there is a general decline in economic activity. The business cycle describes the way an economy alternates between periods of expansion and recessions.

As an economic expansion begins, the economy sees healthy, sustainable growth. Lenders make it easier and less expensive to borrow money, encouraging consumers and businesses to load up on debt. Irrational exuberance starts to overtake asset prices.

The average recession lasts 11 months.

With more people unable to pay their bills during a recession, lenders tighten standards for mortgages, car loans and other types of financing.

You need a higher credit score or a larger down payment to qualify for a loan that would be the case during more stable economic times.

A widely cited indicator of recessions maintains that a recession is likely underway when the three-month moving average of the unemployment rate rises by at least half a percentage point relative to its lowest point in the previous 12 months.

The fact that the Sahm indicator is 0, far below its 50 basis-point threshold, provides yet another indication that the economic expansion is ongoing.