vibecession

Vibecession is a neologism describing a disconnect between a country's economic indicators and the public's negative perception of the economy. The term was coined by economic commentator Kyla Scanlon in a June 2022 newsletter discussing Americans' attitudes toward inflation and recession fears. A portmanteau of "vibe" and "recession", the term refers to situations where economic data shows growth or stability, yet people feel as if they are living through a recession. Scanlon described it as "the vibes of a recession, but maybe not the economic reality of one (yet)."

Some interpretations of the term suggest it represents a broader shift in how economic narratives and emotions shape real-world outcomes. For example, a 2025 article published on The Vibe Economy characterizes vibecessions as a by-product of the emerging "vibe economy", where stories and collective sentiment carry economic weight, and widespread anxiety can lead to reduced spending, delayed investment, and real market consequences.