When the economy looks like it does below, both consumers and company managers take much more care with their buying decisions. They buy less, they spend less, and they buy less often.
When the economy is strong, companies and consumers spend more easily. We know this. They don't put off buying, they just buy. They finish buying one thing and move on to the next. There is a natural momentum and flow to the marketplace. Not only are people searching more often for what they want - when they find it, they are more likely to buy it.