Back in January, economists were saying that the U.S. economy would grow by a respectable 3 percent to 4 percent in 2011.
You might already have guessed from the current lack of jobs in our country that those rosy predictions are not likely to pan out. And sadly, you would be right.
Through the first six months of 2011, the U.S. economy grew by a dismal 0.9 percent, according to the Commerce Department.
That was the weakest six-month period of growth in more than two years. And so now, instead of 3 percent to 4 percent, economists say total 2011 growth will be only about 1.7 percent.
What makes this anemic economic growth even worse is that it just isn't enough to drive down unemployment.
Millions of American families are in serious financial pain. Unfortunately, prospects for quick relief seem slim.