By: Jacinta Sherris Enormous stock market returns are not telling us everything we need to know about the American economy It is no secret that the recovery from the 2008 financial crisis has been a long and grueling one. But with interest rates set to rise in 2018, national unemployment at its lowest point in 16 years, and financial markets performing exceptionally well, it appears that the recovery process is finally over and the economy is growing once again. Indeed, 2017 so far has been an outstanding year for financial markets. News that the stock market is currently reaching all time highs has been celebrated, tweeted, and even proudly proclaimed by some of America’s politicians. While there is much to celebrate, it is important not to become too carried away. Economic growth is a complicated phenomena that is measured in a variety of different ways. Stocks are essentially partial ownership of a firm and when stock performance increases, it is an indicator of increased faith in the profitability of firms. However, while stocks are important an …