Our interactive guide to America's people, politics and economy
DESPITE the surprising contraction of 0.1% GDP in the fourth
quarter of 2012, America’s economic recovery continues apace.
The unemployment rate has stabilised, with 19 states plus the
District of Columbia recording a statistically significant fall
in unemployment in December compared with the same month in
2011. Nevada and Rhode Island had the highest unemployment rates
that month; North Dakota the lowest. The latest data show that
personal income per person has grown in all states, and all but
eight have seen their economies expand.  Although growth remains
tepid voters are hopeful that the recovery has taken hold and
the economy is improving. This optimism may explain why Barack
Obama won the presidential election in 2012, despite
comparatively high unemployment for an election year. Mr Obama
beat Mitt Romney with 51% of the vote to his Republican rival's
47% and won nearly all the states he picked up in 2008, bar
Indiana and North Carolina.