COVID-19 is unique
In the past, it’s taken years for the stock market to bottom, and job loss has been gradual.
With COVID-19, the effects were immediate and severe, as you can see in these charts depicting
the first few months of the crisis.

Action: Pay attention to the data affecting your industry and geographic region, and use national numbers to create overall context.

Policy makes a big impact
Historically, the government has been quick to respond to crisis. Consider these extensive responses to previous economic challenges.
Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation
1933

Protects consumer
deposits in
member banks
Securities and Exchange Commission
1934

Regulates trading
Social Security Administration
1935

Provides supplemental income for the elderly
GI Bill
1944

Makes education possible for millions of veterans

Action: Stay on top of new regulations, policies and aid packages. They can provide opportunities for growth and affect how your business operates.

Perspective is powerful
How long did it take to recover from the last recession? It depends on your perspective.
Gross Domestic Product
According to the GDP, the downturn
lasted 1.5 years, but…3

Dow Jones Industrial Average
Stocks took about 6 years to recover…


Action: Prioritize day-to-day observations and customer feedback ahead of big-picture data.

Recessions can provide opportunity
Downturns change our habits drastically, but some industries survive and potentially even grow during recessions. Deloitte looked at the outlook for a variety of industries.6


Action: Consider which industries and products are doing well, and use those insights to brainstorm how you might pivot, and potentially grow, your business.

Learn more about the difference strong leadership can make during COVID-19.
- S&P Dow Jones Indices
- U.S. Department of Labor Data, as compiled by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, as compiled by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
- University of Michigan survey data, as compiled by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
- Nonfarm Payrolls, Bureau of Labor Statistics data, as compiled by the Federal Reserve of St. Louis
- COVID-19 sector heatmaps, Deloitte, May 2020