The U.S. has experienced a dozen recessions in the last 70 years. For most, the cause can be linked to the financial markets. This time around, that’s not quite the case. What many consider to be the “COVID-19 recession” was triggered by an unexpected global pandemic and subsequent lockdown that seemingly brought the world to a screeching halt. Thousands of businesses were forced to close, at least temporarily, especially those in the non-essential in-person retail space.