A colloquial term describing a period when public sentiment and consumer attitudes reflect recessionary conditions even though official economic data such as GDP growth, employment figures, and industrial production do not confirm an actual recession. The term highlights the disconnect between how people feel about the economy and what the data objectively shows. Vibecessions are often driven by high-profile layoffs, elevated prices for essential goods, social media narratives, and general economic anxiety.
Example
“Despite GDP growing at 2.5% and unemployment at 3.6%, widespread pessimism about the economy led commentators to describe the period as a vibecession.”