Initial claims for unemployment insurance have dropped near their pre-recession average
Private consumption and residential investment are picking up
The energy-related spike in inflation is projected to fade away
Fiscal deficits are large
Federal budget balances and debt held by the public under various consolidation scenarios
The unemployment rate has fallen substantially but is still high
Demographic changes will continue to push down labour force participation
The duration of unemployment has risen dramatically
Hourly compensation has lagged behind the gains in labour productivity
US tertiary attainment rates have stagnated in recent decades