Resources tight before middle of recession (5)
I believe the answer is:
means
'resources' is the definition.
(means can mean financial resources)
'tight before middle of recession' is the wordplay.
'tight' becomes 'mean' (synonyms).
'before middle of recession' becomes 's' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'mean'+'s'='MEANS'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for means that I've seen before include "unpopular test" , "Resources; intends" , "Ways" , "considerable income" , "Money - is significant" .)