What was the Economic Status of the U.S in early 1984 ?? Cause L.A looked very poor.?

The national unemployment rate was over 7% for the entire year but was falling from the peak of 10% reached earlier. State and city budgets were stretched to the breaking point, and had cut back on services. California had ped a limitation on property tax increases in the late 70'd so revenues did not keep up with the high inflation rates so their local government their were worse off than most other places.