Marketplace®

Daily business news and economic stories

“Recession” doesn’t have to be a scary word

The “R” word means different things to different people, depending on their experiences.

A distressed trader working on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Oct. 7, 2008 — the day the Dow closed down more than 500 points.
A distressed trader working on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Oct. 7, 2008 — the day the Dow closed down more than 500 points.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

The “R” word means different things to different people, depending on their experiences. 

For some in their 20s and 30s, the repercussions of the Great Recession of a decade ago are seared into their memories. They watched friends and family lose jobs and houses, which makes the threat of a recession now something they view nervously.

But while talk of an impending recession may trigger panic attacks for survivors of the financial crisis, for analysts, it’s just part of a predictable economic cycle. 

Click the audio player above to hear the full story.

Related Topics