Here is a long-term view of the 10-year yield starting in 1965, well before the 1973 oil embargo that triggered the era of 'stagflation' (economic stagnation coupled with inflation) Inverted Yield Curve An inverted yield curve is when longer-term Treasury yields are lower than their shorter term counterparts. The next chart displays the latest 10-2 spread. Typically, the spread turns negative for a period before rising again prior to recessions, as illustrated in the four recessions shown on this chart. For ...