Katie Couric's Notebook: Recession

The recession ended 14 months ago.

At least that's the word today from The Bureau of Economic Research. According to a panel of academics, the longest recession since World War Two is over. It lasted 18 grueling months, from December of 2007 until June of 2009...

But wait a minute. Why doesn't it feel that way for millions of families?

The Census Bureau reported last week that one in seven Americans lived in poverty last year. One in six still receive government assistance, 40 million are on food stamps and food pantries are serving families who never imagined they'd need one.

All the think tanks in the world can say the recession is over - but unemployment is still 9 and a half percent.  So many people are still out of work and some have given up - not to mention the underemployed, doing what they can to make ends meet.

The recession may be officially over, and that is good news.  But for so many people still struggling, nothing beats hearing, "You're hired."

That's a page from my notebook.

I'm Katie Couric, CBS News.