A contraction is the phase of the business cycle when the economy declines, often with falling real GDP and rising unemployment, moving from peak toward trough (expansion, peak, contraction, trough).

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada reported a fourth-quarter contraction in real gross domestic product Friday that economists argue conceals some promising details in underlying economic data. StatiCan said ...

Small-business owners need to realize that business operates in cycles. During the growth or maturation phase, businesses purchase equipment and hire employees. Eventually, they grow so large they can ...

The periodic availability or scarcity of cash, the movement of interest rates from low to high, and the reaction of businesses and consumers to these conditions all play a role in creating the ...

'GDP was dragged down by a collapse in goods exports, as last year’s surge in exports ahead of US tariffs continues to unwind ...

Contraction isn’t an official word in economics, at least not like “recession” is, but it does describe a shrinking of jobs or production. String enough contractions across different sectors together ...

Carla Tardi is a technical editor and digital content producer with 25+ years of experience at top-tier investment banks and money-management firms. Photo by Fanatic Studio/Getty Images Economic ...