Trends versus fads

There are some long-term trends that are very different from the short-term changes constantly taking place.

• A trend usually involves slow change. A fad is like fashion: it usually starts much faster and ends more abruptly.
• A fad usually gets all the press, because it represents something that’s happening rapidly.Trends get much less press because they take place slowly.
• There are often fads heading opposite/different directions in the midst of a (long-term) trend.  (So watch out not to be fooled by those fads)