Recession fears have been stoked by oil price shocks, higher-than-normal inflation, aggressive policy rate hikes by the Federal Reserve and other central banks, and a tumultuous stock market. These influences often appear before a recession hits but are not the only factors that can trigger one.

Although the economy is still growing and a recession is not imminent, many people are becoming increasingly uneasy about their financial futures. The latest data shows that Americans are the most worried about a recession, ahead of concerns about rising unemployment and pay cuts.

The fear of a recession is understandable given the current level of uncertainty surrounding government policy, particularly around tariffs. While Trump has paused some of his country-specific tariffs, the uncertainty is still rattling investors and consumers.

Various factors can jolt the economy into a recession, from unexpected events like pandemics and wars to asset bubbles bursting to excessive inflation or deflation. Since World War II, the U.S. has averaged a recession every 6.5 years.

When a recession does hit, some of the early warning signals are obvious: You’ll see “for sale” signs lingering longer on homes in your neighborhood and more going-out-of-business liquidations. Other indicators, such as bankruptcy filings, are less straightforward and can spike during good times, too. Nevertheless, it’s important to be prepared for a downturn because its impact on the economy can be severe. A recession can last from a few months to more than five years, depending on its duration and cause.