Recession

ActionAid activists display a bannerprior to a European Union summit near the European Council headquarters on October 29, 2009 in Brussels. Europe's leaders grapple with deadlock on how to fight global warming and the legacy of recession, all the while jockeying for control of arguably the biggest appointment in Brussels' history.

Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker arrives for the European People's Party (EPP) meeting prior to a European Union summit on October 29, 2009 in Brussels. Europe's leaders grapple on Thursday with deadlock on how to fight global warming and the legacy of recession, all the while jockeying for control of arguably the biggest appointment in Brussels' history.

Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt arrives for the European People's Party (EPP) meeting prior to a European Union summit on October 29, 2009 in Brussels. Europe's leaders grapple on Thursday with deadlock on how to fight global warming and the legacy of recession, all the while jockeying for control of arguably the biggest appointment in Brussels' history.

European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek arrives for the European People's Party (EPP) meeting prior to a European Union summit on October 29, 2009 in Brussels. Europe's leaders grapple on Thursday with deadlock on how to fight global warming and the legacy of recession, all the while jockeying for control of arguably the biggest appointment in Brussels' history.

Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt (R), whoes country holds teh EU rotating presidency welcomes Greek Prime Minister George A. Papandreou during an European Union summit at the European Council headquarters on October 29, 2009 in Brussels. Europe's leaders grapple with deadlock on how to fight global warming and the legacy of recession, all the while jockeying for control of arguably the biggest appointment in Brussels' history.

Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, whoes country holds teh EU rotating presidency welcomes French President Nicolas Sarkozy during an European Union summit at the European Council headquarters on October 29, 2009 in Brussels. Europe's leaders grapple on Thursday with deadlock on how to fight global warming and the legacy of recession, all the while jockeying for control of arguably the biggest appointment in Brussels' history.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives for an European Union summit at the European Council headquarters on October 29, 2009 in Brussels. Europe's leaders grapple on Thursday with deadlock on how to fight global warming and the legacy of recession, all the while jockeying for control of arguably the biggest appointment in Brussels' history.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives for an European Union summit at the European Council headquarters on October 29, 2009 in Brussels. Europe's leaders grapple on Thursday with deadlock on how to fight global warming and the legacy of recession, all the while jockeying for control of arguably the biggest appointment in Brussels' history.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy (R) talks to German Chancellor Angela Merkel prior to an European Union summit at the European Council headquarters on October 29, 2009 in Brussels. Europe's leaders grapple on Thursday with deadlock on how to fight global warming and the legacy of recession, all the while jockeying for control of arguably the biggest appointment in Brussels' history.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy (C) and French Prime Minister Francois Fillon arrive prior to an European Union summit at the European Council headquarters on October 29, 2009 in Brussels. Europe's leaders grapple on Thursday with deadlock on how to fight global warming and the legacy of recession, all the while jockeying for control of arguably the biggest appointment in Brussels' history.

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite (L) is welcomed by Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt at an European Union summit at the European Council headquarters on October 29, 2009 in Brussels. Europe's leaders grapple on Thursday with deadlock on how to fight global warming and the legacy of recession, all the while jockeying for control of arguably the biggest appointment in Brussels' history.

Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis (L) is welcomed by Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt at an European Union summit at the European Council headquarters on October 29, 2009 in Brussels. Europe's leaders grapple on Thursday with deadlock on how to fight global warming and the legacy of recession, all the while jockeying for control of arguably the biggest appointment in Brussels' history.

Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen (L) and European Union Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana arrive prior to an European Union summit at the European Council headquarters on October 29, 2009 in Brussels. Europe's leaders grapple with deadlock on how to fight global warming and the legacy of recession, all the while jockeying for control of arguably the biggest appointment in Brussels' history.

European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek (L) confers with Polish President Lech Kaczynski (C) and Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite prior to an European Union summit at the European Council headquarters on October 29, 2009 in Brussels. Europe's leaders grapple with deadlock on how to fight global warming and the legacy of recession, all the while jockeying for control of arguably the biggest appointment in Brussels' history.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (C) look as French President Nicolas Sarkozy (R) shakes hands with German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle prior to an European Union summit at the European Council headquarters on October 29, 2009 in Brussels. Europe's leaders grapple with deadlock on how to fight global warming and the legacy of recession, all the while jockeying for control of arguably the biggest appointment in Brussels' history.

NEW YORK - OCTOBER 29: A trader work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in the late afternoon on October 29, 2009 in New York City. The Dow was up over 200 points in late afternoon trading following news that the U.S. GDP (gross domestic product) grew 3.5% in the third quarter, technically ending the Americas recession. Despite the positive economic news, unemployment in the U.S. is still high and creeping towards 10%.

Polish President Lech Kaczynski leaves the European Union summit at the European Council headquarters on October 29, 2009 in Brussels. Europe's leaders grapple on Thursday with deadlock on how to fight global warming and the legacy of recession, all the while jockeying for control of arguably the biggest appointment in Brussels' history.

Polish President Lech Kaczynski leaves the European Union summit at the European Council headquarters on October 29, 2009 in Brussels. Europe's leaders grapple on Thursday with deadlock on how to fight global warming and the legacy of recession, all the while jockeying for control of arguably the biggest appointment in Brussels' history.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso (L) and Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, whose country holds the EU rotating presidency give a press conference at the European Union summit at the European Council headquarters on October 29, 2009 in Brussels. Europe's leaders grapple on Thursday with deadlock on how to fight global warming and the legacy of recession, all the while jockeying for control of arguably the biggest appointment in Brussels' history. European Union leaders cleared a major obstacle holding up the massive Lisbon reform treaty, paving the way for a new-look EU with its first-ever president.

TOKYO - NOVEMBER 04: Tadashi Yamanashi, Chairman and Team Principal of Toyota Motorsport Gmht sheds a tear during a press conference at Toyota's head office on November 4, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. Toyota announced their withdrawal from Formula One racing as a result of financial losses suffered during the global recession.

TOKYO - NOVEMBER 04: Toyota Motor Corporation President Akio Toyoda speaks during a press conference at Toyota's head office on November 4, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. Toyota announced their withdrawal from Formula One racing as a result of financial losses suffered during the global recession.

Workers fix a giant electronic billboard advertising for Kodak around Time Square in New York November 05, 2009. Eastman Kodak Co. swung to a loss in the third quarter as the recession and tight credit markets continued to hurt sales of its film, commercial printing supplies and digital cameras.

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 05: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange moments before the closing bell on November 5, 2009 in New York City. Following more positive news that the economy is emerging from recession, the stock market rallied today with the Dow industrials adding 203.82 points, or 2.1%, to end at 10005. 96.

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 05: A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange moments before the closing bell on November 5, 2009 in New York City. Following more positive news that the economy is emerging from recession, the stock market rallied today with the Dow industrials adding 203.82 points, or 2.1%, to end at 10005. 96.

ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 06: Giulio Tremonti, Italian Finance Minister, arrives to attend the G20 Finance Ministers meeting at a hotel in St. Andrews, on November 6, 2009 in St Andrews, Scotland. Some of the world�s finance ministers will gather at St Andrews for a G20 summit where they will discuss aims at solving the global economic recession.

ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 06: Jean-Claude Trichet ,President of the European Central Bank, arrives to attend the G20 Finance Ministers meeting at a hotel in St. Andrews, on November 6, 2009 in St Andrews, Scotland. Some of the world�s finance ministers will gather at St Andrews for a G20 summit where they will discuss aims at solving the global economic recession.

ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 06: Giulio Tremonti, Italian Finance Minister, arrives to attend the G20 Finance Ministers meeting at a hotel in St. Andrews, on November 6, 2009 in St Andrews, Scotland. Some of the world�s finance ministers will gather at St Andrews for a G20 summit where they will discuss aims at solving the global economic recession.

ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 06: Robert Zoellick, World Bank President arrives back from jogging at a hotel in St. Andrews, where he is attending the G20 Finance Ministers meeting on November 6, 2009 in St Andrews, Scotland. Some of the world�s finance ministers will gather at St Andrews for a G20 summit where they will discuss aims at solving the global economic recession.

ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 06: Mervyn King, governor of the Bank of England, arrives to attend the G20 Finance Ministers meeting at a hotel in St. Andrews, on November 6, 2009 in St Andrews, Scotland. Some of the world's finance ministers will gather at St Andrews for a G20 summit where they will discuss aims at solving the global economic recession.

ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 06: Martín Redrado, Governor of the Central Bank of Argentina, arrives to attend the G20 Finance Ministers meeting at a hotel in St. Andrews, on November 6, 2009 in St Andrews, Scotland. Some of the world's finance ministers will gather at St Andrews for a G20 summit where they will discuss aims at solving the global economic recession.

ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 06: Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling arrives for the evening dinner at the Fairmont Hotel, on November 6, 2009 in St Andrews, Scotland. Some of the world's finance ministers will gather at St Andrews for a G20 summit where they will discuss aims at solving the global economic recession.

ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 07: United States Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner returns from a run before the G20 finance ministers meeting on November 7, 2009 in St Andrews, Scotland. Some of the world's finance ministers have gathered in St Andrews for a G20 summit where they will discuss aims at solving the global economic recession.

A billboard featuring a 100 US dollar bill saying 'I'll be back', is seen over Times Squares' New Year ball in New York, November 09, 2009. The unemployment rate in the US jumped to 10.2 percent in October, the highest level since 1983, as the US economy has lost 7.3 million jobs since the recession began in December 2007, when the unemployment rate stood at 4.9 percent.

Foreing and trade ministers attend the retreat session of the ministerial meeting during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Singapore on November 11, 2009. Asia-Pacific finance chiefs, anxious about the potential for a 'double-dip recession', will keep lavish stimulus spending in place for now, according to a draft communique obtained by.

Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo (L) talks to reporters during a door-step interview after an APEC Foreign Ministerial Breakfast Meeting in Singapore on November 11, 2009, ahead of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in the city on November 14-15. Asia-Pacific finance chiefs, anxious about the potential for a 'double-dip recession', will keep lavish stimulus spending in place for now, according to a draft communique obtained by AFP. The statement is set to be released November 12, by finance ministers of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum ahead of a weekend summit joined by US President Barack Obama and the leaders of China and Russia.

Singapore Trade Minister Lim Hng Kiang (L) sits beside Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo (R) as he addresses the opening of a retreat session of the ministerial meeting in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Singapore on November 11, 2009. Asia-Pacific finance chiefs, anxious about the potential for a 'double-dip recession', will keep lavish stimulus spending in place for now, according to a draft communique obtained by AFP. The statement is set to be released November 12, by finance ministers of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum ahead of a weekend summit joined by US President Barack Obama and the leaders of China and Russia.

Chinese President Hu Jintao puts on his ear-piece before he delivers a speech at the CEO Summit on the sidelines of The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Singapore on November 13, 2009. The global recovery faces serious pitfalls including mass unemployment in rich nations, asset bubbles, and a lurch towards protectionism, the World Bank chief and Asia-Pacific leaders warned. Ministers from the 21-member APEC grouping, meeting in Singapore this week ahead of the summit, issued calls to resist protectionism for fear that new trade barriers could trigger a return to recession.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd (C) and his wife Therese Rein (L) smile as they arrive at Changi Airport in Singapore on November 13, 2009, ahead of The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. The global recovery faces serious pitfalls including mass unemployment in rich nations, asset bubbles, and a lurch towards protectionism, the World Bank chief and Asia-Pacific leaders warned. Ministers from the 21-member APEC grouping, meeting in Singapore said this week ahead of the summit, issued calls to resist protectionism for fear that new trade barriers could trigger a return to recession.

Former Taiwanese vice-president Lien Chan addresses a press conference at The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Singapore on November 13, 2009. The global recovery faces serious pitfalls including mass unemployment in rich nations, asset bubbles, and a lurch towards protectionism, the World Bank chief and Asia-Pacific leaders have warned. Ministers from the 21-member APEC grouping, meeting in Singapore said this week ahead of the summit, issued calls to resist protectionism for fear that new trade barriers could trigger a return to recession.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono addresses a CEO Summit 2009 being held on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Singapore on November 13, 2009. The global economic recovery faces serious pitfalls including mass unemployment in rich nations, asset bubbles, and a lurch towards protectionism, world leaders warned. IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn ruled out a 'double-dip' recession in the United States once a huge dose of stimulus spending runs out. But he said the world economy would struggle to meet pre-crisis levels of growth for now. The sobering assessment of the fragile status of world recovery came from top economic officials on the eve of an Asia-Pacific summit to be attended by US President Barack Obama, Chinese President Hu Jintao and 19 other leaders.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono addresses a CEO Summit 2009 being held on the sidelines of The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Singapore on November 13, 2009. The global economic recovery faces serious pitfalls including mass unemployment in rich nations, asset bubbles, and a lurch towards protectionism, world leaders warned. IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn ruled out a 'double-dip' recession in the United States once a huge dose of stimulus spending runs out. But he said the world economy would struggle to meet pre-crisis levels of growth for now. The sobering assessment of the fragile status of world recovery came from top economic officials on the eve of an Asia-Pacific summit to be attended by US President Barack Obama, Chinese President Hu Jintao and 19 other leaders.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key addresses a CEO Summit 2009 being held on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in Singapore on November 13, 2009. The global recovery faces serious pitfalls including mass unemployment in rich nations, asset bubbles, and a lurch towards protectionism, the World Bank chief and Asia-Pacific leaders warned. Ministers from the 21-member APEC grouping, meeting in Singapore said this week ahead of the summit, issued calls to resist protectionism for fear that new trade barriers could trigger a return to recession.

President of the Republic of Korea Lee Myung-Bak (L) gestures as he talks with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during a meeting at The Istana Presidential Palace in Singapore on November 13, 2009. The global recovery faces serious pitfalls including mass unemployment in rich nations, asset bubbles, and a lurch towards protectionism, the World Bank chief and Asia-Pacific leaders warned. Ministers from the 21-member APEC grouping, meeting in Singapore said this week ahead of the summit, issued calls to resist protectionism for fear that new trade barriers could trigger a return to recession.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd gestures as he addresses a CEO summit in Singapore on November 14, 2009, on the sidelines of The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit. The global recovery faces serious pitfalls including mass unemployment in rich nations, asset bubbles, and a lurch towards protectionism, the World Bank chief and Asia-Pacific leaders warned. Ministers from the 21-member APEC grouping, meeting in Singapore said this week ahead of the summit, issued calls to resist protectionism for fear that new trade barriers could trigger a return to recession.

Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva smiles as he addresses a CEO summit in Singapore on November 14, 2009, on the sidelines of The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit. The global recovery faces serious pitfalls including mass unemployment in rich nations, asset bubbles, and a lurch towards protectionism, the World Bank chief and Asia-Pacific leaders warned. Ministers from the 21-member APEC grouping, meeting in Singapore said this week ahead of the summit, issued calls to resist protectionism for fear that new trade barriers could trigger a return to recession.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (L) shakes hands with China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi before a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Singapore on November 14, 2009. The global recovery faces serious pitfalls including mass unemployment in rich nations, asset bubbles, and a lurch towards protectionism, the World Bank chief and Asia-Pacific leaders warned. Ministers from the 21-member APEC grouping, meeting in Singapore said this week ahead of the summit, issued calls to resist protectionism for fear that new trade barriers could trigger a return to recession.

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 20: A child looks into a Macy's Christmas windows displays November 20, 2009 in New York City. Retailers are hoping the holiday shopping season will deliver a boost in sales following a dismal year in the midst of a recession.

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 20: People walk by and look at the Macy's Christmas windows displays November 20, 2009 in New York City. Retailers are hoping the holiday shopping season will deliver a boost in sales following a dismal year in the midst of a recession.

SAN FRANCISCO - NOVEMBER 23: A worker pulls a pallet jack by a nearly empty shelf in the warehouse at the San Francisco Food Bank November 23, 2009 in San Francisco, California. As the U.S. continues to struggle through the recession and unemployment is at record highs, food banks are seeing an increased demand as the holiday season approaches.

SAN FRANCISCO - NOVEMBER 23: Volunteers bag brown rice at the San Francisco Food Bank November 23, 2009 in San Francisco, California. As the U.S. continues to struggle through the recession and unemployment is at record highs, food banks are seeing an increased demand as the holiday season approaches.