Skip to Main Content

Recession watch

Will the U.S. economy soon be in a recession? It's the trillion-dollar question that even experts don't know the answer to. Here's how to prepare for a potential downturn, and how one could impact you.

Insights from our expert analysts

“Economic uncertainty is a time for reducing debt and boosting savings, not the other way around.”

– Greg McBride, CFA

Do's and don'ts of saving during a recession

To help you navigate saving during a recession, we asked a number of experts what some of the most helpful things to do are, as well as some things you should try to avoid at all costs.
Learn more

Recessions & your money

Illustration of a person holding a house with a rain cloud over it
How might a recession affect the housing market?
A middle-aged couple looks out to the beach from their van
Here are some tips to help make sure your retirement savings are protected in the event of a recession.
Illustration of worker with a brief case
The once-booming labor market is starting to face some trouble.

Experts in all things finance

Our expert reporters and editors bring the news and analysis you need—backed by data and firsthand experience.

About Bankrate
Greg McBride

Greg McBride, CFA Arrow Right Icon

Chief Financial Analyst

Sarah Foster

Sarah Foster Arrow Right Icon

Principal U.S. Economy Reporter

Mark Hamrick

Mark Hamrick Arrow Right Icon

Senior Economic Analyst

Calculate your savings

Use our Savings Calculator to help you quickly and accurately estimate the growth of your investment. Set a goal and figure out how much you need to save each month to hit the mark.

Latest articles

Donald Trump sitting at a desk in the Oval Office.
Tariffs are an import tax on foreign-made goods, and they act like a sales tax.
Illustration of a person holding a house with a rain cloud over it
How might a recession affect the housing market?
Dollar sign balloon being blown up by a pump on a green background with an arrow pointing down to the right
How to find the best high-yield savings account in times of high inflation
Illustrated collage of a house shape made of money
Your lender could cap, cut or even close your credit line. Here’s what to expect and how to prepare.
Image of the back of a man in a suit standing in front of a large line graph that is on top of a half shredded U.S. Dollar.
Stagflation is an economic “super villain,” bringing high inflation and unemployment.
A young man trades crypto in his home office on his smartphone.
Here’s what crypto experts say you should expect from digital assets if a recession is on the horizon.
Woman reaching in to the air for cash
Prices rise and fall all the time in the U.S. economy. It’s not always inflation.
Image of Jerome Powell and Donald Trump side by side above the Federal Reserve building.
Lower rates won’t fix trade uncertainty, and credit could still be tight.
A father multi-tasks with his young son.
Savers, here are strategies to invest in CDs.
A check-cashing store.
If you don’t have a bank account, check-cashing services offer access to your money, at a cost.
Big banks pay just 0.01% APY while online banks offer 4.4%. Your $10,000 could earn $897 more over two years. Learn how to switch without changing banks.
couple sitting together on the couch and working on laptop and phone
Digital banking makes it easy to access your personal finances from anywhere.
Young woman using a smart phone at home
Here’s how you can open a checking account online, in three steps.
Young business woman working at the office on a laptop
Here’s a guide to saving $10,000 in one year to make yourself more financially secure.
A portly white male wearing sunglasses is relaxing on his hammock outside, smiling in the sun holding a debit card in one hand and a smart phone in the other.
Customer satisfaction is up at banks and credit unions, but fees are still an issue.
Wells Fargo branch
Looking for a nearby Wells Fargo location or ATM? Here’s how to find the closest ones.
The trusted provider of accurate rates and financial information
Wall Street Journal
Usa Today
New York Times
Cnn
Bloomberg
Abc