Depression is a period marked by slackening of business activity, widespread unemployment, falling prices, and wages, etc.

The retail price index is a barometer of economic activity.

Recession is a temporary falling off of business activity during a period when such activity is generally increasing.

Forming an information infrastructure, the real impact of the information highway is an expectation of new economic development due to a shift from a tangible hardware-industry to brain-oriented software-industry.