The Economics in Practice describes prosperity and recession as they are depicted in literature. In mid-2009, there was a debate about whether the U.S. economy had entered an economic expansion. Look at the data on real GDP growth and unemployment and describe the pattern since 2007. You can find raw data on employment and unemployment at www.bls.gov, and you can find raw data on real GDP growth at www.bea.gov. (In both cases, use the data described in "Current Releases.") Summarize what happened in mid-2009. Did the United States enter an economic expansion? Explain.