Are we better off today? 经济衰退

CNN's Christine Romans examines whether the U.S. economy is in better shape now than it was when President Bush took office.

President Bush took off as just before a recession began and it's quite possible he'll end his term amid or after another recession. In between was the weakest economic expansion since World War Two, and that had both parties asking,"Are YOU better off today?"

"Ask yourself a simple question, that is , 'Are you better off now?' than you were when George Bush took office?"

You'll hear a lot over the next nine weeks about family budgets and the struggling middle- class and whether the economy is better-off today.

"In a word, NO! A comparing reccession, uh today, with 8 years ago, when you were in a boom. And that's a tough comparison , no matter how you slice it."

Tough comparison indeed. Remember gas at $1.49? It has more than doubled during the George W.Bush's administration. Most recently, $3.68 a gallon. Medical costs are gobbling up an ever-bigger chunk of your heart and dollar.Think of it this way, more than 17 cents of every consumer dollar is spent on health care. Tuition and food prices are exploding as paychecks, after inflation, shrink. Economist Marks Andy says the richer , a little richer. The poorer, a litter poorer. And everyone else?.

"I think for the average American, they are treading water financially. Their incomes are about what they were years ago. And their net work is about what it was years ago as well. "

Historically, income rises. The Democrat's playing White House economic policy. It's one reason many say John McCain must distance himself from Bush and choose a running mate strong on the economy. At the same time ,the GOP warns against democrats, taxing is expanding in the country further in the whole.

Despite millions of foreclusures and a housing crisis, the average house is still worth more than what it was in 2001.That's a good news, if you have a steady job, are paying your mortgage , and haven't raided the home involved with equity . So how are you doing? Are you better or worse- off?

You can let us know, at I REPORT.com, forward slash, better-off, tell us your story and you might see it down in CNN Money .com . For CNN, money, I'm Christine Romans.