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Economics vocabulary · Economic News and Data

Headwinds

Meaning in economics, with examples

/ˈhedwɪndz/nounCommon term

In economics, headwinds means: Conditions that make economic progress harder, such as high interest rates, weak demand abroad or rising energy prices.

In Turkish: olumsuz koşullar, ters rüzgarlar, zorluklar

How it is used

A metaphor from sailing and flying, very common in company reports, IMF statements and the news. Usually plural: the economy faces headwinds; headwinds are mounting or easing. The opposite is tailwinds, conditions that help growth.

Example sentences

  1. The economy faces strong headwinds from high borrowing costs and weak exports.

  2. The company said global headwinds would hurt its sales next year.

Common collocations

  • face headwinds
  • strong headwinds
  • economic headwinds
  • headwinds and tailwinds
  • global headwinds
  • downturnA period when economic activity, sales or prices fall or grow much more slowly; a general word that may or may not mean a full recession.
  • forecastAn estimate of future economic figures, such as growth, inflation or unemployment, based on data and models; it is also used as a verb.
  • recessionA significant fall in economic activity lasting months, with falling output, income and jobs; often defined as two quarters in a row of shrinking GDP.
  • economic growthAn increase in the amount of goods and services an economy produces over time, usually measured as the percentage change in real GDP.

More terms: Economic News and Data

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not financial advice.