1. In France, real GDP was the same in 2012 as it had been in 2011, but in the last quarter of 2012 and the first quarter of 2013, France’s real GDP decreased.

In the United States, real GDP increased in 2012, and in the first quarter of 2013, it was higher than in the last quarter of 2012.

Based on this information, which country was in a recession at the beginning of 2013? What features of the information provided led you to your conclusion?