The US economy is in an overheated state, with declining manufacturing activity, high everyday prices, and a tight labor market, causing Americans to feel a significant cost of living crunch and prompting a warning that they should "hunker down" and be cautious with their finances, according to global economist Nancy Lazar. Excessive government spending is blamed for the high prices, and an impending recession is expected to add further pressure on all wealth groups. To achieve economic recovery, Lazar emphasizes the importance of private sector-driven growth and the need for reduced government spending and entitlement reform.