For over 30 years, people have turned to eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY) to declutter their homes, capitalize on collections of old baseball cards and Beanie Babies, and sell vintage t-shirts their parents asked them to discard decades earlier.
But eBay isn’t just an online marketplace and auction platform. The e-commerce company is considered one of many counter-cyclical recession indicators. During economic downturns or bouts of elevated inflation, the company—which often features discounted, second-hand, or refurbished items—sees increased activity as consumers look to find value amid tightening budgets or to generate income from unneeded goods.
