NEWSWEEK.COM 41

The number of ofɿcial recessions

in the U.S. over the past 100

years—not including the

unofɿcial one set in motion this

year by the COVID-19 pandemic

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1933 ...................................................................................... $2,602,000

1975..................................................................................... $53,242,000

1982 .................................................................................. $127,977,000

2009 ...................................................................... $1,412,688,000,000

2020 (Projected) .................................................. $3,700,000,000,000

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LONGEST 08/1929–03/1933 43 months

01/1920–07/1921 18 months

12/2007–06/2009 18 months

AVERAGE --------------- 13.6 months

SHORTEST 02/1945–10/1945 8 months

08/1957–04/1958 8 months

07/1990–03/1991 8 months

03/2001–11/2001 8 months

01/1980–07/1980 6 months

PEAK

UNEMPLOYMENT

RATES

The unemployment

rate is up

sharply

this year,

exceeding the

highest rates

in previous

postwar

recessions

but so far has

fallen short

of Depression-

era levels.

RECESSION

OF 1981–82

%

APRIL

2020

%

GREAT RECESSION

2008–09

%

GREAT

DEPRESSION

%

0

17

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