Problem
GDP, labor productivity, unemployment, and the business cycle, along with the reports and articles provided on these measures, answer the questions listed below:
I. State what phase of the business cycle you believe the United States is currently in.
II. Explain why you selected this phase. Discuss this in the context of the topics of GDP, labor productivity, and employment/unemployment.
III. Many economists and analysts at various organizations, like the IMF, as you have read about, have predicted that the United States, along with other nations, may experience a recession later this year. As the Federal Reserve has implemented its program of raising interest rates, do you believe this has affected what phase of the business cycle the economy is operating in?