In parts of east Germany there was 20%+ unemployment while the US reported less than 5%, sluggish GDP growth (from 1998 - 2006 in Germany about 1.4% in the US about 2.8%). Increasing public debt, while in the US Greenspan asked Clinton for lowering taxes, because otherwise the state could run out of debt; the stronger visibility in every day life of the new American products compared with the more behind the stages German products; the demonstration of military capability of America (Kosovo...); a housing boom which made Americans rich on paper - all that gives for the typical journalist (the best economists, mathematicians, ... usually do not become journalists) the impression that Europe and especially Germany were lagging the US quite dramatic.

People think in these frameworks because others are more complicated. How is the GDP calculated? Is GDP a better measurement of wealth than GDP/capita? What are these public deficit numbers and which future liabilities come with payroll tax income of the US state? How is unemployment measured? Can a country become rich by selling each other more and more expensive houses? How much is the state quote and what services is the state paying with the money it gets. Which quality does these services have and who benefits most from them?
I think you expect too much from the everyday press, if you ask for taking such questions into account.

Der Amerikaner ist die Orchidee unter den Menschen
Volker Pispers