Is the country in a recession?

An Associated Press article in the Boston Globe about Vermont entitled "Big revenue shortfall seen by state" indicates that the U.S. is in a recession:

Vermont could be facing a $30 million hole in its budget for next year.

That's the word from the state Emergency Board, a panel made up of the governor and chairs of legislative money committees.

They heard Tuesday from two consulting economists who said the state and nation are in a recession that has not bottomed out yet.

Now, if only they would identify the "two consulting economists" so that we could find out what they really said about the overall U.S. and what metrics they were using.

Just give me the data, unfiltered by the media, politicians, and "consultants."

-- Jack Krupansky