In sharp contrast to the 1930s, U.S. recessions from the 1940s through the early 2000s were relatively short, between 6 and 16 months from peak to trough. As Table 10.1 shows, the two most severe recessions prior to 2007, those of 1973–1975 and 1981–1982, lasted 16 months as opposed to the 43-month duration of the Great Depression. The 2007–2009 recession was the longest since World War II, lasting 18 months with GDP falling 4.1 percent from peak to trough. Unemployment rates during these three recessions were quite high by today's standards, but they were low compared to the 25 percent unemployment rate recorded during the Great Depression.