boom and bust

plural booms and busts · alternative adjective boom-and-bust · alternative boom or bust · alternative boom-bust

1. businessA pattern of high prices in a given market or in the entire economy followed by ruinously low prices, falling production, and bankruptcies by producers; prosperity followed by recession.

   The reason such comments provoke scepticism is because Brown's mantra during his 10 years at the Treasury was that his prudence as chancellor of the exchequer would ensure there would never be a return to “boom and bust” economics.

   2008 September 11, Deborah Summers, “‘No return to boom and bust’: what Brown said when he was chancellor”, in The Guardian

   1 more example

   Boom and bust is a long-running theme with rail suppliers. [...] I sympathise with those complaining of the ill-effects of boom and bust. [...] If boom and bust has been going on for decades (and it has), then perhaps it's an enduring characteristic and one that companies must work with, saving cash in the good times to see them through the bad.

   2019 November 20, Philip Haigh, “An important to-do list for NR and its many suppliers”, in Rail, page 66