What is a bear market?

A bear market is defined as a market condition where there is a significant decline in investment prices, typically quantified as a drop of 20% or more from recent highs. This decline reflects a general pessimism among investors about the market's future performance, often combined with widespread fear or uncertainty. A bear market can lead to a drop in consumer and business confidence, and it often corresponds with a broad economic downturn.

The other options describe different market scenarios that do not align with the definition of a bear market. For instance, a market characterized by steadily rising prices indicates a bull market, which stands in stark contrast to the declining nature of a bear market. Increased consumer confidence typically correlates with rising prices rather than falling ones, and a market described as volatile with no clear trend does not specifically denote a bear market; it could encompass various market behaviors without the consistent downward trend that defines bearish conditions.