Depends where you look. More people have gone back to work every year since the recession ended, and the Island's 4.9-percent unemployment rate is below the national average. But only half the jobs that disappeared during the recession have been restored, and many of the new jobs pay less than the ones that were lost. Long Islanders boast the second-highest median income in the land and the highest household spending.
Money is certainly good.
But they spent less in the stores last year. That's bad, because the sale of all those washing machines and cars after the recession ended had been keeping the economy going. More houses were sold last year than during the best years of the '80s real estate boom, which is great news if you're selling. The value of that home you're living in has barely budged during the recovery and still is well below late-'80s peaks. If you're confused by all this, don't feel bad.