BUSINESS CYCLE PHASES: The recurring, but irregular, pattern of business cycles can be divided into two basic phases -- expansion and contraction. An expansion is a period of increasing economic activity and a contraction is a period of declining economic activity. These two phases are marked by two transitions. The transition from expansion to contraction is termed a peak and the transition from contraction to expansion is termed a trough. The early portion of an expansion is often referred to as a recovery. See also | business cycle | expansion | contraction | recession | peak | trough | recovery | business cycle measurement |
