As I’m sure you’ve seen, there have been many, many such stories circulating in the financial press in recent months, all touting similarly bleak numbers. But it’s important to keep in mind that these numbers are just that: numbers. The real question is what these numbers actually mean. Today, let’s answer that question by drilling down on the narrative behind the numbers and discover what that story tells us about the bars of the financial prison that are locking into place around us.