The chart of the week examines the number of companies in the S&P 500 that mentioned “recession” in their earnings calls. This is similar to a previous chart that examined inflation and similarly, hearing directly from companies about what is impacting their business can provide valuable insights into the current economy. A decrease in “recession” mentions is likely a positive sign for the economy and has become less of a concern. Considering this, they are likely to adjust some of their business strategies going forward. It’s important to note that now that the Fed has raised interest rates by over 5% since 2022, they can lower rates to help the economy should we experience a slowdown.