by Calculated Risk on 6/19/2008 08:10:00 PM

Here is a chart of monthly GDP from Northern Trust:

Click on graph for larger image in new window.

Even though the average GDP in Q1 2008 was slightly higher than Q4 2007, on a monthly basis it appears GDP peaked in January - and for six of the last seven months (except January), GDP was lower than Sept '07.

Other measures of an economic recession, such as employment and industrial production, suggest the recession started in December '07 or January '08.

The question now is how long and deep the economic slump will be.