An incorrect statement. The economy was already in recovery, but the official gov't numbers and reports on the STATE of the economy weren't released until AFTER the election, for which would've likely changed the outcome had they been released beforehand. It also didn't help matters that Dem Governors and legislatures gerrymandered districts all over the country to pad their numbers for 1982, with the most grotesque example being in CA. Had the lines been favorable, the GOP would've either held firm or gained seats. A good example was the Senate, which was a wash.
1894!