US Economy - Recent Developments

Recent US macroeconomic performance –

Year	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013p
Real GDP Growth (%)	-0.3	-2.8	2.5	1.8	2.8	1.9

Source: BEA                                                                    ^{2013 data is still preliminary data}

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Manufacturing and Construction Sectors Slowdown
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/03/us-economy-construction-idUSBREA120X320140203

Middle-Class Decline – A Business Perspective

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/03/business/the-middle-class-is-steadily-eroding-just-ask-the-business-world.html