# data[].attributes.headline
Early 2007: Housing Market Shows Signs of Weakness

# data[].attributes.subject
Early 2007: Housing Market Shows Signs of Weakness

# data[].attributes.body
The U.S. housing market begins showing significant signs of weakness. Home prices start declining, and subprime mortgage defaults increase. New Century Financial, a leading subprime mortgage lender, files for bankruptcy, marking the beginning of the mortgage crisis. GDP growth is still positive but slowing, and unemployment is stable at this point.

# data[].attributes.body
BNP Paribas freezes three investment funds due to subprime problems, signaling the first major indication of the credit crisis. Interbank lending rates spike as banks become wary of lending to each other. The Federal Reserve responds by injecting billions into the banking system. GDP growth declines sharply, and unemployment rates begin to rise.

# data[].attributes.body
Investment bank Bear Stearns collapses and is sold to JPMorgan Chase for $2 per share (later revised to $10), marking the first major Wall Street bank to fall. This event signals the severity of the financial crisis and leads to increased market instability. GDP growth stagnates, and unemployment rises modestly.

# data[].attributes.headline
September 15, 2008: Lehman Brothers Bankruptcy

# data[].attributes.subject
September 15, 2008: Lehman Brothers Bankruptcy

# data[].attributes.body
Lehman Brothers files for bankruptcy, becoming the largest bankruptcy filing in U.S. history. This event sends shockwaves through the global financial system and marks the peak of the financial crisis. Stock markets worldwide crash in response. GDP contracts deeply, and unemployment rates increase significantly.

# data[].attributes.body
The Federal Reserve announces an $85 billion emergency loan to insurance giant AIG to prevent its collapse. This marks the largest government bailout of a private company in U.S. history at that time. GDP continues to fall sharply, and unemployment escalates.

# data[].attributes.body
The U.S. Congress passes the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), authorizing $700 billion to purchase troubled assets from financial institutions. This emergency measure aims to stabilize the financial system and prevent economic collapse. GDP remains negative, and unemployment is at its highest since the crisis began.

# data[].attributes.headline
December 2008: Federal Funds Rate Near Zero

# data[].attributes.subject
December 2008: Federal Funds Rate Near Zero

# data[].attributes.body
The Federal Reserve cuts the federal funds rate to a range of 0-0.25%, the lowest in history at that time. This extraordinary monetary policy measure aims to stimulate economic activity and prevent further economic deterioration. GDP growth is tepid, and unemployment remains persistently high.

# data[].attributes.body
The International Monetary Fund projects global growth to fall to 0.5% in 2009, the lowest rate since World War II. Unemployment rates surge worldwide, and international trade volumes collapse. GDP shrinks in many developed countries, marking a severe global downturn.

# data[].attributes.headline
February 2009: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

# data[].attributes.subject
February 2009: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

# data[].attributes.body
President Obama signs the $787 billion stimulus package aimed at economic recovery. The act includes tax cuts, infrastructure spending, and aid to states, marking the largest economic stimulus in U.S. history at that time. Initial signs of recovery are seen as GDP growth turns positive, though unemployment is slow to decline.

# data[].attributes.headline
March 2009: Market Bottom and Early Signs of Recovery

# data[].attributes.subject
March 2009: Market Bottom and Early Signs of Recovery

# data[].attributes.body
The S&P 500 hits its lowest point at 676.53 on March 9, 2009. This marks the bottom of the market crash and the beginning of what would become the longest bull market in history. Major banks begin reporting profits, showing early signs of stabilization. GDP growth continues to recover slowly, and unemployment remains high but starts to decrease gradually.

# data[].attributes.body
After consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth, by June 2009, GDP numbers show positive growth for the first time since the crisis, signaling the technical end of the recession. Consumer confidence begins to recover.

# data[].attributes.body
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act is signed into law, imposing regulations on financial institutions to prevent another crisis. Markets react positively, helping to stabilize financial sectors.

# data[].attributes.headline
December 2010: Unemployment Starts Declining

# data[].attributes.subject
December 2010: Unemployment Starts Declining

# data[].attributes.body
U.S. unemployment begins to drop as businesses start to expand and hire again, indicating a recovering job market and improving economic conditions.

# data[].attributes.body
The S&P 500 and other major stock indices reach record highs, fueled by sustained economic growth, low interest rates, and improved corporate earnings.

# data[].attributes.body
By 2015, GDP growth stabilizes, and unemployment rates return to pre-crisis levels, signaling a complete recovery from the recession. Consumer spending and investment drive economic growth.

# data[].attributes.headline
Question 1: What are the phases of the economic cycle?

# data[].attributes.subject
Question 1: What are the phases of the economic cycle?

# data[].attributes.body
Discuss the different phases of the economic cycle, including expansion, peak, contraction, and trough. Provide examples from the timeline.

# data[].attributes.headline
Question 2: How is GDP used to measure the economic cycle?

# data[].attributes.subject
Question 2: How is GDP used to measure the economic cycle?

# data[].attributes.body
Explain how Gross Domestic Product (GDP) acts as an indicator of economic health, reflecting periods of growth and recession.

# data[].attributes.headline
Question 3: What role do interest rates play in the economic cycle?

# data[].attributes.subject
Question 3: What role do interest rates play in the economic cycle?

# data[].attributes.body
Examine how changes in interest rates by central banks influence economic growth, consumer spending, and investment.

# data[].attributes.headline
Question 4: How does unemployment relate to the economic cycle?

# data[].attributes.subject
Question 4: How does unemployment relate to the economic cycle?

# data[].attributes.body
Analyze the correlation between unemployment rates and different phases of the economic cycle, particularly during recessions and recoveries.

# data[].attributes.headline
Question 5: What causes economic recessions and recoveries?

# data[].attributes.subject
Question 5: What causes economic recessions and recoveries?

# data[].attributes.body
Identify factors that lead to economic recessions, such as financial crises, and the measures that help recover from them.

# data[].attributes.headline
Question 6: How do government interventions impact the economic cycle?

# data[].attributes.subject
Question 6: How do government interventions impact the economic cycle?

# data[].attributes.body
Discuss the effects of government policies, like stimulus packages and bailouts, on mitigating recessions and accelerating recovery.