A line and bar chart showing the percentage change in business investment—both
structures and equipment—from 1989 through first quarter 2003. The performance
(percentage decline) in both types of business investment was much worse during
the 2001 recession than during the recession of the early 1990s. By first quarter
2003, structures investment was stable (showing little change), while equipment
investment, which had shown strength through much of 2002, declined significantly.