The economic downturn of 2007–09 is one of the two largest cyclical downturns experienced in the United States in the post-WWII era—the other being the 1982–83 downturn. This period stands out not just for the magnitude of the downturn but also for the slow pace of the recovery. For example, the 1982–83 downturn was characterized by a rapid recovery. In contrast, the recovery from the 2007–09 downturn has been relatively anemic.