Is the economy headed for recession or a soft landing?

Are we in a recession right now?

It's a strange question. How could we not know if we're in a recession? It feels a little like asking, 'Am I sad right now?' If you're sad, shouldn't you feel it?

What is a recession anyway?

A recession is when the economy gets smaller, i.e. produces less stuff: fewer laptops, trucks, lattes, and haircuts. Normally, when that's happening, you feel it, people get laid off, businesses shut down and everything starts going on super sale.

But right now, nothing is really going according to plan. The data we're getting seem to be telling some very different stories.

A lot of the most important numbers are in: , data , , and (the big).