A contraction is the phase of the business cycle when the economy declines, often with falling real GDP and rising unemployment, moving from peak toward trough (expansion, peak, contraction, trough).

Heat waves are becoming more frequent, a federal government study showed.

Investopedia contributors come from a range of backgrounds, and over 25 years there have been thousands of expert writers and editors who have contributed. Katrina Ávila Munichiello is an experienced ...

If news about inflation, trade, the Federal Reserve and jobs has you confused and you’re not sure what to make of the US economy, don’t worry: You’re in good company. But this week offered a ton of ...

An economic downturn or recession begins when the economy experiences a significant decline in typical activity, such as employment, production, income and a few other signs, according to the National ...

Discover how microeconomics focuses on individual and business decisions, while macroeconomics analyzes the broader economic ...

For one day only, Americans are being urged not to make purchases from big companies, resist the temptations of fast food, and avoid filling stations. Like a polar opposite of Black Friday – ...

A reversal of the stock market's long rally could be especially painful for the US economy, KPMG's top economist Diane Swonk warns.

When Ireland's GDP figures for 2025 came in, a startling 12.3% in real terms, many spoke of a fresh economic miracle. The number, taken at face value, looks extraordinary: no advanced economy grows in ...

Some may recognize the above quote from Sally Field's Oscar acceptance speech in 1985 (which differs somewhat from the apocryphal but far more recognized "you really, really like me" version that's ...