What if a fiscal cliff deal is not reached?

As the United States teeters on the edge of its so-called fiscal cliff, President Barack Obama has held another round of talks with Governors from across the nation to avert disaster.

Without a deal on January 1, an automatic trigger would introduce hundreds of billions of dollars of cuts and tax hikes.

Such a move could plunge America back into recession, taking much of the world with it.

Channel Four's Matt Frei has been finding out what consequences would lie ahead for ordinary Americans.