Almost two-thirds of Americans think the US is experiencing a recession, according to a Harris Poll conducted for The Guardian. However, by the standard economic definition of a recession - two consecutive quarters of negative growth - the country is not in one.
The disconnect reflects the experiences of ordinary people across the country. Americans are contending with elevated prices and a jobs market that has stalled, creating the sensation of economic hardship despite overall growth in official figures.
The Guardian is asking Americans to describe their personal signals of economic downturn. These everyday indicators might appear in employment situations, at grocery stores, in schools or within local communities - the tangible signs people notice in their daily lives that suggest an economic slump, rather than what the data alone indicates.