The outlook for the U.S economy isn't very good, according to a number of leading economists.

Some warn that the government is running out of ways to prop up the economy, and keep it from falling into another recession, perhaps worse than the recent downturn.

One study has found that the overall economy won't get better until the housing market recovers and that may still be a ways off.

Others point out that the growing national debt is a serious long-term threat that could weaken the economy permanently.

One survey by The Wall Street Journal showed economists continuing to cut their growth forecasts for the rest of this year and into 2011.

"The issues the economy is facing aren't monetary policy issues," Ram Bhagavatula of Combinatorics Capital told the Journal. "Monetary policy can't bring asset prices back in the short term. Animal spirits will revive when they revive."