The recession has affected different parts of the economy in different ways. In the UK some sectors, such as government or financial services, have been hard hit.

In the last three years since the recession ended, the UK economy has eked out an average growth rate of 1.0% a year, less than half its 2.5% pre-crisis trend.

The economy, along with “no tax rises” have come back to haunt successive American presidents, and this year’s election is really all about how Barack Obama has handled the American economy over the past four years.