The nation's top economists declare that the current recession began in December of last year, prompting the Dow Jones to drop 680 points.

Travel during Thanksgiving weekend is at its lowest since 9/11 due to the struggling American economy.

Over 29 million Americans are now relying on food stamps, nearly three million more than last year. The monthly benefit per person averages out to 95 dollars.

Faced with a gloomy holiday shopping season, Internet stores are cutting prices so low they're losing money with each sale.

General Motors, Ford and Daimler Chrysler, the auto industry's "big three," asked Congress for a $25 billion "lifeline" to save them from collapsing.

This holiday season, you've got a better chance of getting into an Ivy League college than getting a job.

China will try to prevent its economy from breaking down by investing $586 billion on new housing, infrastructure and tax cuts. In relative terms, that's three times more than the U.S. has spent on its own rescue plan.

The chief of staff for President-elect Barack Obama wants to provide financial aid to America's ailing auto industry. General Motors, once one of America's strongest companies, could be bankrupt within the year.

Young people and people with lower incomes will be the hardest hit by the recession, according to labor experts.

U.S. employers cut 240,000 jobs last month. Over one million Americans have lost their jobs this year.