Most economists say the recession has ended, but the pain remains

The recession is officially over but the misery remains.

At least, that's the view of 80 percent of the 52 private economists surveyed by Blue Chip Economic Indicators. They expect gross domestic product to rise at a 3 percent annual rate in the third quarter and a 2.4 percent rate in the fourth quarter, according to Reuters.

But before anyone starts planning a ticker-tape parade, it's important to remember that times will remain tough for many people for some time. Foreclosure filings in August topped 300,0000 for a sixth straight month and unemployment hit a 26-year high of 9.7 percent.