Economists like to talk about the shape of the economic recovery. Ideally, it would have been V-shaped: a rapid, dramatic upswing following the recession. Several months into the recovery, which technically began in June 2009, economists were predicting a still-not-shabby U-shape.

Arizona's economic recovery will continue to move at a glacial speed in 2011 — but at least it's moving. The coming new year will see an increase in job creation, a rise in population and even a modest increase in single-family home permits.

After the turkey trimmings are stowed in the fridge, some 138 million shoppers are expected to hit the mall on Friday — up 4 million from last year.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the measure of the nation's output of goods and services, grew by 2.5 percent in the third quarter of the year, according to recently revised figures from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

The advance report on third quarter economic growth (released October 29) was not really bad news. After all, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was up by 2.0 percent, not on the decline as it would be in a double-dip recession.

The Economic Club of Phoenix opened its new season October 28, 2010. "The Economic Minute" is a monthly thumbnail update that is a regular feature at Economic Club luncheons. This month, W. P. Carey Dean Robert Mittelstaedt talked about the dynamics of the sector-driven recovery.

With the most accurate economic forecast among Blue Chip survey participants for the years 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009, Dr. Sherry Cooper of BMO Financial Group is the winner of the 2010 Lawrence R. Klein Award for Blue Chip Forecast Accuracy.

As the fourth quarter begins, most economy-watchers have lost any hope that 2010 will be a year of strong growth. Instead, analysts now are expecting that it may be several years before output expands at a consistent pace that is vigorous enough to make a sizeable dent in unemployment rates.

Personal Income decreased in practically every state in the nation in 2009. For most states, such outright declines in personal income had not been seen since state income records began. Personal income fell nationally as well, for the first time in six decades.

If you grew up in Arizona you probably remember learning about the five C's, an easy way of remembering the major components of the state's economy at the time.