contraction Archives - Marketplace

U.S. productivity plummeted in Q4, and reopening the economy might be why

by Kai Ryssdal and Sean McHenry

Mar 4, 2021

The measure fell at the steepest rate in 40 years, but that might not be as ominous as it sounds — if the trend is short term.

Less productive businesses like restaurants have started to reopen, which may be causing national productivity data to decline.

Scott Heins/Getty Images

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What is a contraction exactly?

by Sabri Ben-Achour

Nov 1, 2019

The National Bureau of Economic Research’s Business Cycle Dating Committee makes the call.

A contraction is an unofficial term for an economic slowdown.

Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

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