Nearly two-thirds of Americans think US is in recession, poll finds
The Guardian on October 15 published a reader callout inviting Americans to share their personal “recession indicators” — everyday signals they see as pointing to an incoming economic slump. The newspaper framed the request around a direct question: “Do you feel like the US is experiencing a recession?”
The callout asked readers to describe where they see such signals in everyday life: “It could be seen in your job or at your local grocery store, something you notice at your children’s school or out in your community.”
It invited readers to “tell us about it below” and to “include as much detail as possible” in their submissions through a form on The Guardian’s website.
The form caps file attachments at 5.7 megabytes.
The Guardian instructs readers through the form that their contact details, if provided, will be seen only by the newspaper. The newspaper also asks that any other individuals named in submissions give their prior consent.
The Guardian paired the callout with findings from a Harris Poll it had commissioned. Nearly two-thirds of Americans told pollsters they think the United States is experiencing a recession, the newspaper reported.
By the typical definition of a recession — when a country’s economic growth is in the negative for two consecutive quarters — the United States is not experiencing one, the newspaper noted.
“Americans are facing higher prices and a stagnant job market, which for many feels like a downturn,” the newspaper wrote.