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For decades, statistics that came directly from the U.S. government, especially from agencies like the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), have long been the gold standard for measuring the health of the American economy. But this trust has been shaken by recent events, including substantial downward revisions to jobs data<\/a>, bruising political accusations<\/a>, and the unceremonious dismissal of Erika McEntarfer<\/a>, the BLS\u2019s top official, at the beginning of the month. The resulting uncertainty has left many Americans asking: If official government data can\u2019t be trusted, how can you know if the economy is struggling? So this invites the question: If you cannot trust official numbers, what concrete signs reveal economic trouble? Economists point to several alternative indicators that, individually and collectively, offer insight\u2014often visible without needing to consult official statistics. Here are the telltale signs the average person, or a skeptical observer, should watch for<\/p>\n Beyond the numbers: Recognizing economic distress<\/em><\/p>\n The head of the Culinary Workers Union, Ted Pappageorge, calls it the \u201cTrump slump.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\n(Fortune more…)<\/a><\/p>\nFast Company: Why is tourism down in Vegas this summer? Some blame Trump<\/a><\/h2>\n
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