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Why do economists compare recessions to letters of the alphabet?

Sep 30, 2020
Is it a V-shaped recovery? Or a J, L, U, W or K?
What kind of economic recovery are we in, exactly?
Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

Is the economy in a V-shaped recovery?

Aug 26, 2020
Strong sales of big-ticket items like cars and business machinery are a positive sign, but they're just one part of a much bigger equation.
A car salesman talks to customers at a New York dealership in June. Durable goods orders rose in July, led by a surge in demand for cars.
Al Bello/Getty Images