Though recent market activity and housing reports give some warrant for optimism, United States economic growth was only 2.2 percent in the third quarter, and the unemployment rate is still very high. In this new Strategic Analysis, we project that high unemployment will continue to be a problem...

The collapse in the subprime mortgage market, along with multiple signals of distress in the broader housing market, has already drawn forth a large body of comment. Some people think the upheaval will turn out to be contagious, causing a major slowdown or even a recession later in 2007. Others...