A recession is generally defined as six months or more of declining gross deomestic product (GPD), GDP is the measure of the value of all goods and services that a nation produces. In identifying the turning points of a recession, the NBER (National Bureau of Economic Research) examines a number of other important economic indicators in addition to GDP, like income, unemploymetn levels, industrial production, and sales. Along with a handful of other ,indicators, these statistics convey a clear idea of the direction in which the economy is heading. Recessions are a normal part of the business sycle, which is a pattern of alternating economic growth and contraction. The business cycle has four phases: peak, recession, trough, and expansion. The peak is the point at which growth is the highest. After the peak, the economy contracts, resulting in a recession. The trough is the lowest point in the downturn. It is followed by a recovery characterized by expansion and renewed growth.
Jason Porterfield
How a Recession Affects You