Chart of the Day: The Economy is Worse Than You Think

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The Fed’s Jeremy Nalewaik argues that a measure of GDP using income levels is a more reliable guide to the actual business cycle than the traditional measure of GDP using spending. If that’s true, says Justin Wolfers, the recession started nearly five years ago and was much deeper than we think: GDP per capita dropped 7% and is still well below its pre-recession level.

And what are we doing about this? Pretty much nothing. Apparently we’re content to follow Japan into oblivion.

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Our news will always be free to read, watch, and listen to online. But what is its value?

Unbiased reporting on the issues that billionaire-owned newsrooms won’t touch. Fearless research into the dark corners of government and corporations. Ferociously fact-checked news that focuses on the facts, and the facts alone.

It IS free for you and every reader, viewer, and listener to utilize. But it’s not free for our team to make. So, what’s it worth to you? Let us know by making a donation: Make a one-time donation today to support this work. Or make a monthly sustaining donation to help us plan for the future.

Whatever you choose, know that you’re supporting more independent, investigative journalism in a time when we need it most.

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