Most policy makers are aware of the weak housing market, the steady trade deficit, and questions regarding interest rates, but what does that mean for the American economy? In order to keep Congressional staffers up to date on the latest economic trends, the Mercatus Center at George Mason University hosts quarterly briefings that survey the economic scene. Specific attention is paid to trends in GDP growth, employment, inflation and interest rates, all conveyed in a way that is understandable to the economist and non-economist alike. This "birds-eye-view" of the economy is valuable to staffers interested in promoting policies intended to aid economic performance.