---
title: "Three Consecutive Quarters Definition | Model Diplomat"
description: "A three consecutive quarters trend indicates data over three back-to-back periods, crucial for assessing economic stability in civil services."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/three-consecutive-quarters"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- A "three consecutive quarters" trend refers to data measured over three back-to-back three-month periods, used to confirm sustained economic direction rather than transient fluctuation.
- How many consecutive quarters of negative growth define a technical recession?
- When does an Indian fiscal quarter begin and end?
- Why do analysts use three consecutive quarters rather than a single quarter?
- How does the RBI's Monetary Policy Committee use multi-quarter trends?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

A "three consecutive quarters" trend refers to data measured over three back-to-back three-month periods, used to confirm sustained economic direction rather than transient fluctuation.

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Example

In November 2020, India's NSO confirmed a technical recession after GDP contracted in two consecutive quarters (Q1 and Q2 of FY2020-21) following the COVID-19 lockdown.

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