Slacker’s Syllabus: Recession

Sinking piggy bank in the water.
imaginima/E+/Getty Images
Vasil Dimitrov/E+/Getty Images

There are daily debates about whether or not the U.S. is or is not in a recession. Honestly, I don't even know what recession means. If everyone I know is broke, and everything is expensive, does it matter what we call it?

Think of recession as a substantial decrease in economic activity experienced broadly across the economy for a sustained period of time.

Brian Walsh, financial planner in Grand Rapids, MI

Damian Dovarganes/AP/Shutterstock

Tap