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Recession watch

Will the U.S. economy soon be in a recession? It's the trillion-dollar question that even experts don't know the answer to. Here's how to prepare for a potential downturn, and how one could impact you.

Insights from our expert analysts

“Economic uncertainty is a time for reducing debt and boosting savings, not the other way around.”

– Greg McBride, CFA

Do's and don'ts of saving during a recession

To help you navigate saving during a recession, we asked a number of experts what some of the most helpful things to do are, as well as some things you should try to avoid at all costs.
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Recessions & your money

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How might a recession affect the housing market? Find out what the experts think.
A middle-aged couple looks out to the beach from their van
Here are some tips to help make sure your retirement savings are protected in the event of a recession.
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The once-booming labor market is starting to face some trouble.

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Greg McBride

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Chief Financial Analyst

Sarah Foster

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Principal U.S. Economy Reporter

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Senior Economic Analyst

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Latest articles

A middle-aged couple looks out to the beach from their van
Here are some tips to help make sure your retirement savings are protected in the event of a recession.
Young mother looking for a job using internet
Overpaid in unemployment benefits? Here’s how to resolve the issue efficiently.
Couple sitting on a sofa, looking at a laptop
Mortgage rates have fallen, but the imminent Fed cut could make them even more favorable for refinancers.
inflation and the housing market photo illustration
The housing market isn’t immune from outside economic forces, including inflation.
Woman reaching in to the air for cash
Prices rise and fall all the time in the U.S. economy. It’s not always inflation.
Outside of the Federal Reserve building
The Federal Reserve raised interest rates several times. These interest rate changes are likely to affect the rates of personal loans.
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange
It isn’t always about two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth.
Warren Buffett, chairman and chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway
Warren Buffett halves Apple stake: What investors can learn from the move.
Woman online banking
The concept is seen as a way to boost innovation and competition, ultimately giving consumers better digital options for their money.
Friends laugh while gathered at a table eating a meal and socialization.
Here’s where the nation’s top economists see hiring, the Fed and inflation heading over the next year.
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell speaks at press conference
Higher inflation and a troubled labor market could be the Fed’s nightmare scenario.
A shopper wearing a protective face mask fills a grocery cart with bottled water at a supermarket.
Higher inflation is here, but the big question is whether it’s here to stay or not.
Watering the plants
The savings account has always been a time-tested standby. Here’s why it still matters.
Woman working on her laptop from home
The longer an individual is out of a job, the more likely they are to lose skills, face discrimination from employers and see lower wages.
Internal Revenue Service federal building Washington DC
Millions of Americans support another round of relief payments.
Post-pandemic financial checklist
Before making this your own version of the roaring ’20s, here’s what you may want to consider.
Couple sitting on a sofa, looking at a laptop
Mortgage rates have fallen, but the imminent Fed cut could make them even more favorable for refinancers.
Woman reaching in to the air for cash
Prices rise and fall all the time in the U.S. economy. It’s not always inflation.
Outside of the Federal Reserve building
The Federal Reserve raised interest rates several times. These interest rate changes are likely to affect the rates of personal loans.
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange
It isn’t always about two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth.
Federal Reserve Chair Powell at a podium
As the job market weakens, some economists say the Fed should’ve cut rates already.
If you’re looking at HE loans or have a variable-rate line of credit, pay attention to the Fed.
The Federal Reserve’s decisions have ripple effects, including for mortgages.
Calm focused female freelancer in casual clothes revising reports while sitting on soft couch at table and using computer in light contemporary apartment
Subprime borrowers are particularly affected by interest rate changes. Here’s how to prepare.
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