As the race for the White House nears its end, voters’ perceptions of the economy are driving the campaign. Economic issues dominated the party conventions and recent debates, and they continue to dominate the speeches, interviews, and talking points of President Obama and his Republican opponent, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.

Obama depicts an economy that is still shaking off the effects of the worst recession in 70 years, but is much improved and getting better. Romney portrays the economy as a basket case beset by weak job growth, high unemployment, and shrinking household incomes.