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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.
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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.
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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.

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Greg McBride

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Chief Financial Analyst

Sarah Foster

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Principal U.S. Economy Reporter

Mark Hamrick

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Senior Economic Analyst

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Latest articles

Homes in Charleston
Understanding mortgage rate movements could save you money.
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.
Fed rate hike to curb inflation, wooden block with FED and up-down arrows icon. Central banking system and interest rate changes.
We look back at how banks handled rate cuts in 2024, and what to expect in 2025.
Classic style new home exterior view with front porch and front door entrance.
The August jobs slowdown sets the stage for a Fed cut and brought mortgage rates to their lowest levels of the year.
Home and a money bag balancing on a scale
With a big Federal Reserve decision on the horizon, does it make sense to refinance your mortgage now, or wait?
The Federal Reserve Building in downtown Washington DC, USA at night.
The Fed continues to signal lowering rates later this month. Here’s how to prepare.
A downward facing red arrow "crashing" trough a shattering $100 bill.
Worried that your high-yield savings APY isn’t so high? Here’s how to stay on top.
Artistic sketch of a businessman on a suspended platform looking down as the platform morphs into a downward arrow with a '%' symbol on its side.
As the Fed hints at lowering interest rates, here’s how to prepare when rates fall.
Couple looking at laptop while sitting on sofa at home
As the Fed is cutting interest rates, consider these certificates of deposit (CDs)
Compare the best high-yield savings rates as of September 15, 2025.
Image of Jerome Powell speaking from the Federal Reserve podium.
A tough mix of rising prices and weak hiring is leaving the Fed with no easy way out.
People walk by a Western Union location in New York.
Wire transfer fees can be expensive, but here are ways to send money for less.
Someone cutting a stack of cash with scissors
In this era of no-fee banking, pesky fees still exist. Here’s how to avoid them.
Illustration of a robot hand holding a bank building
Artifical intelligence (AI) is likely to reshape our lives in as big a way as the internet did in the 1990s and smartphones did in the 2000s (scary or exciting as that may be). That means changes to your [...]
Illustration of coins with a headline that reads best high-yield savings accounts today
Compare the best high-yield savings rates as of September 12, 2025.
Woman watering plants.
Check out the latest CD rates from Bankrate’s weekly survey of banks and thrifts.
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell talks to reporters at press conference
The coronavirus pandemic has brought the U.S. economy to its knees.
A front view of the Federal Reserve Bank
Consumers get more access to their savings at a time when they may urgently need it.
Federal Reserve Eccles Building in Washington, D.C.
It could take years for growth and unemployment to return to where they were before the pandemic.
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell speaks at press conference
It’s the largest emergency reduction in the Fed’s more than 100-year history.
Traders on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange react to news
Here’s who stands to benefit the most from plunging interest rates.
Federal Reserve Eccles Building in Washington, D.C.
The fed funds rate could quickly approach zero this year, experts said.
People walk outside the New York Stock Exchange
Predictions range from cautiously optimistic to outright warnings.
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