how long do recessions usually last 
since 1857 the united states has had 34 recessions ranging in length from two months february to april 2020 to more than five years october 1873 to march 1879 in the six instances since 1980 the average recession lasted less than 10 months 4the bottom linea u shaped recession and recovery is characterized by an initial drop in economic output followed by an extended period of decline and then a slower but eventual economic expansion in the case of a u shape it is sometimes hard to tell if the economy has bottomed out or if things will get worse before they get better economists tend to categorize u shapes into three stages the recessionary part of the downturn the economic trough and the slower but more lasting economic recovery 