The National Bureau of Economic Research has declared that the recession ended in June 2009:

It’s official: The Great Recession ended 15 months ago, in June 2009. That was the word Monday from the economists at the National Bureau of Economic Research, the outfit that tracks the U.S. business cycle based on a variety of economic variables.

By their calculations, the downturn that began in December 2007 lasted 18 months, or the longest on record since the 43-month plunge of the Great Depression. On the other hand, the recession was only two months longer than the 16-month downturns of 1973-1975 and 1981-82, the two other most serious post-World War II periods of falling economic growth. The 2007-2009 downturn was painful but not extraordinary in historical context.

So, my 11 months of unemployment were in a recovery?

We have been in recovery for 15 months?

You’ll also note that this is a pretty mild recovery. The brutal 1981 recession had GDP exceeding peak about 18 months later, and this “recovery,” such as it is, even if we don’t experience a double dip, or just …… dare I say it? …… malaise, and we will be looking at something over 4 years.

Well, this recovery and $3.95 will get you a small Starbucks^® latte.