Content about Recessions

February 14, 2013
Views of economy improve, but gloom persists, Nielsen study finds

More than half of consumers around the world say the world is in an economic recession, according to a new study by Nielsen.

NEW YORK — More than half of consumers around the world say the world is in an economic recession, according to a new study by Nielsen.

According to the Nielsen Global Survey of Consumer Confidence and Spending Intentions, 71% of North Americans said they were in a recession in the fourth-quarter of 2012, but this represented a drop in 15 percentage points from the fourth-quarter of 2011, representing the largest drop in negative sentiments about the economy of any area.

December 5, 2011
The many faces of the 2011 holiday season

During Black Friday weekend, people were spending more money during an economy where that nasty word "recession" still is on the back of everyone's tongue. But was foot traffic down during the weekend because of the number of tryptophan-dazed consumers walking the aisles a day early to get the best deals?

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — During Black Friday weekend, people were spending more money during an economy where that nasty word "recession" still is on the back of everyone's tongue. But was foot traffic down during the weekend because of the number of tryptophan-dazed consumers walking the aisles a day early to get the best deals? Or did consumers forsake the Black Friday shopping madness in exchange for the no lines/free shipping offered on Cyber Monday?

July 26, 2011
Economic downturn took greatest toll on Hispanics' household wealth, research finds

The bursting of the housing market bubble and the recession that followed took a greater toll on the wealth of minorities than whites, especially Hispanics, whose median household wealth plunged 66% from 2005 to 2009, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of newly available government data from 2009.

NEW YORK — The bursting of the housing market bubble and the recession that followed took a greater toll on the wealth of minorities than whites, especially Hispanics, whose median household wealth plunged 66% from 2005 to 2009, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of newly available government data from 2009.

April 6, 2011
Recession prepared many for rising food prices ahead

U.S. consumers that opted to become more thrifty during the recession will face rising food costs with ease as they've mastered ways to stretch their money, according to new research by NPD.

CHICAGO — U.S. consumers that opted to become more thrifty during the recession will face rising food costs with ease as they've mastered ways to stretch their money, according to new research by NPD.

The research group's Economy Tracker found that nearly 3-out-of-4 consumers (74%) strongly agreed that they expect coupons and special deals will be much more important in deciding what to buy, while 67% said that they would shop less in general and 53% said that they would be buying in bulk.

January 25, 2011
Consumer confidence receives boost

The Conference Board said Tuesday that its Consumer Confidence Index reached its highest level in eight months as Americans grew more optimistic about the job market.

WASHINGTON — The Conference Board said Tuesday that its Consumer Confidence Index reached its highest level in eight months as Americans grew more optimistic about the job market.

The index climbed to 60.6 this month, up from 53.3 in December. While that reading surpassed expectations, it still fell short of the 90 level that indicates a healthy consumer mindset.

The January figure was the highest since last May's 62.7. The index has not risen above 90 since the recession began in December 2007.

June 10, 2010
New survey finds affluent consumers drive economic recovery

A new consumer study underscored the role affluent consumers play in driving the economy toward...