The economy was/is abysmal for the average American. School is unaffordable, housing is unaffordable, and food is becoming increasingly unaffordable.
When they were saying the economy was good, they were saying stocks were up. Which mostly benefits the wealthiest.
As opposed to the current time of surplus and abundance where it is if "you don't work you don't eat". Which is morally a lot worse considering there is more than enough food to feed everyone