Sales at the group bounced back to pre-recession levels during 2011, with strong growth in leading markets.

There is concern that if the economy was to improve, oil prices might return to pre-recession levels.

Of the largest metro areas, Houston is the only one that has returned to pre-recession levels.

Poverty rates did not drop back to pre-recession levels.

To the economist, however, recovery begins much earlier, when things start to improve even if business is still 20 percent below pre-recession levels.

The current round of City payouts is expected to total some £4bn, around a third of pre-recession levels.

How many jobs must be created to return to pre-recession levels?

Nationwide, factory employment has risen in recent months, but it is only now back to pre-recession levels.

We don't: average weekly hours are still below their pre-recession level.

Temp employment is still down by almost 20% from its pre-recession level.