It’s been a week of mixed economic news. Gas prices are down; jobless claims are up; pending housing sales are up. While it’s been hard to put a finger on whether the recovery is progressing or stumbling, it is clear that as presidential campaigning pushes into full swing, talk about the economy will only grow heated. This may particularly be the case in the 14 states expected to be “swing states” this election: job growth in swing states has been well below the national average for job growth around the rest of the U.S. this past year, and that could be a major cause for concern for President Obama come this November. Motoko Rich, economics reporter for our partner The New York Times explains the latest economic numbers, and what to look for in the months ahead.