If you watch the news about the current and future state of the American economy, you have likely heard nothing but depressing news. You have most likely heard that the American economy is heading towards a deep recession. You have also heard television news anchors and other commentators on social media platforms draw comparisons between the current state of the economy and its state in the 1970s and 1980s. These claims, while not entirely true, serve as a useful comparison to measure current developments in the U.S. economy. While this crisis is different from similar crises in the past, many of the same factors will extend the length of the current pitfall we as a nation are in. Nothing better illustrates the slowdown of America’s economy, among all sectors, than the recent hits to the the rental and for-sale housing markets.