Retail grocers heard an economist say Thursday that the nation's longest and most painful economic downturn since the Great Depression ended sometime last year, and everything is going to be OK.

But during Associated Food Stores annual convention at the Salt Palace, all perishable-foods manager Bill Bohman could do was shake his head after hearing about the nation's good fortune.

"All I can say is -- - I hope so," said Bohman, who workers for Lee's Marketplace in Logan.

Economist Jeff Thredgold said most forecasters are expecting the National Bureau of Economic Research to announce in coming months that the U.S. recession ended between June and September 2009. The nonpartisan panel of experts had announced in late 2008 that the recession officially started in December 2007.

Thredgold, a consultant for the Salt Lake City-based Zions Bank, said modest U.S. economic growth returned during 2009's third quarter, followed by more robust performance during the October to December period.

He told the 1,300 attendees that another factor in the nation's recovery was the return of global economic growth in late 2009, led by Asia.

"Main Street doesn't necessarily feel it right now, but we're back to growth," said Thredgold. "My message is, things are getting better."

But employees at Payson's Market didn't see it that way.

"We're selling a lot of hamburger and not many steaks," said meat manager Bernie Parra.

Deli manager Cheryl Smith said people are shopping sales and picking up fewer items. And bookkeeper Marilyn Tayor said food-stamp purchases are twice the amount from last year.

Mark Jensen, chief operating officer of Associated Food Store's Fresh Market chain, said some segments of the population already are experiencing better times.

"Recovery will be slow," he added. "But people seem to have more discretionary income. They're starting to buy more."

For Jeremy Farnsworth, meat manager at Gunnison Market, the recession won't be over "until people have jobs. That what it'll take."

And Don Pierce, a Fresh Market manager in Salt Lake City, took a more philosophical approach when discussing the possible recovery.

"If you take all the economists and line them up," he said, "none of them would agree on much of anything."

Economist Thredgold seemed to agree.

He called economics "a dismal science" that can be "intimidating, boring, frustrating and confusing in the hands of an amateur. It gets even worse in the hands of a professional."