A respected independent panel of economists has announced the recession ended in June of last year and the economy has been recovering for the past 15 months.

According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, the country is producing more goods and services. However, with the unemployment rate still hovering near 10 percent, a lot of people say they don't believe it.

The economic experts say some small businesses are hiring again, retail sales are up and banks are lending more. They say it takes time for the effects of the recovery to influence people on Main Street.