Boom, Recession and Depression

A boom on the stock market, with share prices reaching record levels, may or may not reflect what is happening in the economy. An economic boom with high economic growth (increasing demand and production), is inevitably followed by a slowdown or a downturn (periods of slower growth), when the economy weakens.

The verb corresponding to downturn is turn down and the verb corresponding slowdown is slow down.

There is a boom atmosphere. If it continues, share prices could well rise further this year.

Fears that the economy is heading into afresh downturn will grow with new figures today showing a nosedive in consumer confidence.

Interest rate increases have undermined confidence again over the past two months, raising the possibility that the economy might even turn down again in the autumn.

The slowdown in economic growth among the industrial countries covered by the latest casts a shadow over British prospects.

As the German economy weakens, it will be forced to cut its interest rates.

A slowdown may be the first sign of a recession: a period with little growth, no growth or even negative growth

During a recession, there is a slump in many kinds of economic activity and everyone waits for the economy to start expanding quickly again, impatiently looking for signs of a recovery or an upturn: signs that the economy is picking up or turning up and that things are getting better. Commentators then talk about a pick-up in the economy.

The noun pick-up is also spelt as two words.

Although Japan is likely to avoid a recession, the dramatic slowdown has reduced growth to very low levels by Tokyo's standards.

Indicators supporting recovery were outnumbered 2 to 1 by data suggesting continued recession.

Large percentage increases in unemployment in 1974-76 and 1980-81 were associated with house-buying slumps.

Perhaps investment is really much stronger than industrialists are admitting, and economic growth will now pick up very strongly.

With a pick-up in the economy likely to be hesitant in the months ahead, we are likely to see a continued rising trend in business failures.

Bond traders concluded the economy is turning up.

The government is convinced that Britain is emerging from the recession and will see an economic upturn, possibly as soon as the autumn

America, a straight-talking country where a recession is still called a recession. Unless it is a depression.

'We have nothing to fear but fear itself ’, said Franklin D Roosevelt when he took over the management of the Great Depression in 1932.