What was the prevailing expectation regarding the expansion initiated by the Big Bang before 1998 observations?

Answer

It should be gradually slowing down due to gravity.

Based on the dominant influence of gravity, cosmologists had expected that the expansion initiated by the Big Bang would be gradually decelerating over time.

What was the prevailing expectation regarding the expansion initiated by the Big Bang before 1998 observations?
physicsuniversespeedcosmologyspacetimeexpansionBig RipUniverse Expansionrate of expansion