If misery likes company, then the United States found it when all the major industrial economies except Australia fell into recession after the Lehmann collapse. After the 2001 recession, the economy quickly rebounded but did not really pick up speed until the first quarter of 2003. The economy as measured by GDP showed healthy gains until the fourth quarter of 2007, when it began to weaken. The financial crisis which started in the U.S. quickly spread dragging most countries into recession. However, the recovery that is underway continues to be weak thanks to underlying structural problems that remain here and abroad.