"They slowed the downturn, but it's clear they didn't really provide any spark," Mr. Baker said.
After a few early successes that slowed the downturn and saved the jobs and homes of hundreds of thousands, partisan politics have sabotaged Obama's more recent efforts to move the country forward.
The rate cuts have been meant to help slow an economic downturn in the 17 countries in the European Union that use the euro.
Unlike the sales of many other products, prescription drug sales do not generally slow with a downturn in the economy, Mr. Traversa said.
"Sure, adverse weather can slow an economic downturn," said one official.
Activity has slowed since the downturn, but average prices have actually climbed.
She was comparing this year with the last two, when the global downturn slowed the market.
The downturn slowed sales of Japanese-made machinery, electronics and cars.
Though new construction slowed over the downturn, people continued to spend more on "intricate and complicated" outdoor living rooms, pools, waterfalls and fire features.
The downturn slowed yacht buyers' appetite for extra-large yachts, with demand for vessels greater than 50 metres falling in 2011 and 2012, according to Camper & Nicholsons.
A slowing or a downturn in the economy could leave the next mayor in a situation not unlike the one Mr. Giuliani encountered when he arrived in office.
