Zaire company had a $26,000 net loss from operations. depreciation expense for the year was $9,600, and a dividend of $2,000 was declared and paid. the balances of the current asset and current liability accounts at the beginning and end of the year are as follows:
end beginning
cash $3,500 $7,000
accounts receivable 16,000 27,000
inventory 51,000 53,000
prepaid expenses 5,000 9,000
accounts payable 12,000 8,000
accrued liabilities 6,000 7,600
required :
1. did zaire company's operating activities provide or use cash? use the indirect method to determine your answer. use negative signs with cash outflow answers and to indicate operating activities used cash, if applicable.

The business cycle is the periodic but irregular up-and-down movement in economic activity, measured by fluctuations in real gross domestic product (gdp) and other macroeconomic variables. a business cycle is typically characterized by four phases—recession, recovery, growth, and decline—that repeat themselves over time. economists note, however, that complete business cycles vary in length. the duration of business cycles can be anywhere from about two to twelve years, with most cycles averaging six years in length. some business analysts use the business cycle model and terminology to study and explain fluctuations in business inventory and other individual elements of corporate operations. but the term "business cycle" is still primarily associated with larger (industry-wide, regional, national, or even international) business trends.