Business: The Harder They Fall

The recession stands to be deeper and longer than advertised

The most anticipated recession in history has arrived earlier and with a more forceful jolt than expected. Instead of the gradual slide that economists were predicting would begin in midsummer or early fall, the second-quarter gross national product fell at a substantial annual rate of 3.3%. Most forecasters had anticipated that the downturn at worst would bring a decline of 2% or so. In a confidential revised forecast last week, some top governmental economists conceded that the slump will be worse than anticipated this year and will be followed by an "anemic"...

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