If you listen to the investment experts and politicians, you would think the economic recovery is a foregone conclusion. Not so. The truth is this is not the end of this recession, but rather the middle of it.

Despite the predictions and posturing you are hearing, the evidence does not point to a V-shaped recession and recovery. It is a U-shaped one at best, meaning there is still a ways to go before things truly pick up.

In fact, more than likely, this is a W-shaped recession, and we are near the end of the second leg up. That means down the economy goes. Even if the economy stays flat, the stock market will almost surely head back down when the Street begins to recognize what a jobless recovery actually means.

So, while the statistics may point to an economic recovery this quarter or next, real people will be feeling recession pains throughout 2010. Still not convinced? Here are the 10 reasons the economy will flat line or decline in 2010.

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