In the last 100 years, the United States has experienced several periods of recession. A recession is typically defined as a significant decline in economic activity lasting more than a few months, evident in GDP, employment, industrial production, and other economic indicators.

Major U.S. Recessions (1920–2024)

1. 1920–1921 Recession
   • Cause: Post-World War I adjustments, deflation, and the Federal Reserve’s tightening of monetary policy.
   • Duration: ~1.5 years.
2. The Great Depression (1929–1933)
   • Cause: Stock market crash of 1929, banking failures, and reduced consumer spending.
   • Duration: ~4 years (with additional downturns in 1937–1938).
   • Most severe economic downturn in U.S. history.
3. Recession of 1945
   • Cause: Post-World War II economic adjustments as wartime spending decreased.
   • Duration: ~8 months.
4. Recession of 1948–1949
   • Cause: Post-war consumer demand slowing and monetary tightening.
   • Duration: ~11 months.
5. Recession of 1953–1954
   • Cause: Korean War demobilization and a decline in government spending.
   • Duration: ~10 months.
6. Recession of 1957–1958
   • Cause: Tight monetary policy by the Federal Reserve.
   • Duration: ~8 months.
7. Recession of 1960–1961
   • Cause: Tightening of monetary policy and reduced consumer demand.
   • Duration: ~10 months.
8. Recession of 1969–1970
   • Cause: Federal Reserve interest rate hikes and the Vietnam War’s economic burden.
   • Duration: ~11 months.
9. 1973–1975 Recession
   • Cause: Oil embargo (OPEC crisis), stagflation (high inflation + unemployment).
   • Duration: ~16 months.
10. Recession of 1980

• Cause: High inflation, Federal Reserve’s aggressive interest rate hikes.
• Duration: ~6 months.

11. Recession of 1981–1982

• Cause: Continued monetary tightening to fight inflation.
• Duration: ~16 months.

12. Early 1990s Recession (1990–1991)

• Cause: Oil price shock from the Gulf War and a credit crisis.
• Duration: ~8 months.

13. Early 2000s Recession (2001)

• Cause: Dot-com bubble burst and the 9/11 attacks.
• Duration: ~8 months.

14. The Great Recession (2007–2009)

• Cause: Subprime mortgage crisis, housing market collapse, and financial crisis.
• Duration: ~18 months.
• Second-worst U.S. recession after the Great Depression.

15. COVID-19 Recession (2020)

• Cause: Global pandemic, lockdowns, and supply chain disruptions.
• Duration: ~2 months (shortest U.S. recession on record).

Would you like more details on any specific recession?

Nipun Joshi

With deep roots in the ancient Vedic science of Jyotish, Nipun is a seasoned Vedic Astrologer dedicated to guiding individuals on their journey through life using the sacred wisdom of the cosmos. Specializing in birth chart analysis, Dasha (Time Periods) predictions, and planetary transits, he blends traditional Vedic principles with intuitive insight to decode life's challenges and unlock spiritual and material growth. Over the years, Nipun has consulted thousands of individuals globally, offering clarity on career paths, marriage prospects, financial timing, spiritual evolution, and karmic patterns. Fluent in divisional charts, Yogas, nakshatras, and remedial astrology, his approach is precise, compassionate, and rooted in the classical texts of Parashara and Jaimini. Whether you're seeking guidance through a challenging period or looking to align with your soul's true purpose, Nipun's astrological counsel empowers you to navigate life with confidence and clarity.

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