If we don't have figures that show even one quarter of decreased GDP, then how can way say whether we're in a recession or not? Wouldn't it be imprudent to say that we were in a recession with any hard evidence? For the same reason, it would probably be inapposite to say for certain that we were not in a recession -- we just don't know yet.

The word has a definition, and using it in a manner inconsistent with that definition is not leftist or rightist; it's just incorrect.