get_recession_start.py

# get recession start -->
def get_recession_start():
    gdplev = pd.read_excel('gdplev.xls',skiprows=219)         
    data = gdplev.copy()
    data = data.rename(columns={data.columns[4]:'Quaters',data.columns[6]:'GDP'})
    data.set_index('Quaters',inplace=1)
    data.sort_index(axis=0,inplace=1)
    data['GDP+1'] = data.GDP.shift(-1)       #gdp of next quarter
    data['GDP-1'] = data.GDP.shift(1)        #gdp of prev quarter
    data = data[(data['GDP-1']>data['GDP']) & (data['GDP']>data['GDP+1'])]
    data = data[['GDP-1','GDP','GDP+1']].dropna()
    return data.index[0]



get_recession_start()