What is the meaning of the expression "better than feared" (in a economic context)?
"This is better than feared after retail sales and industrial production turned out badly in December.

Is it an english idiom?

Thank you

Question

What is the meaning of the expression "better than feared" (in a economic context)?
"This is better than feared after retail sales and industrial production turned out badly in December.

Is it an english idiom?

Thank you

Answer

I think it means, the profit (or whatever "this" refers to) is better than expected.

-> After retail sales and industrial production turned out badly in December,  we expected / feared a low profit. BUT it turns out, that the profit is not really much, but it is still more than what we expected.

Answer

It's not an idiom. Meredith explained it very well. It does not depend on an economic context, either.

Answer

Yes... I took off my answer because I missed the context part.  Thanks Meredith :)

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