It’s Official . . .

. . . the bad old days have officially returned:

The economy made me do it.

That’s the excuse a brazen Queens burglar gave his victim while robbing her of $100 in a knifepoint home invasion, police say.

. . .

Michael Green, 47, delivered the inventive cop-out after pushing his way into Anne Heidt’s apartment in the former Edgemere Houses around 2:15 p.m. Sunday, cops said.

“Sorry — it’s the economy,” Green said as he held a knife to the 56-year-old woman’s throat, authorities reported.

Green, who lives in an apartment in the same housing project, grabbed the woman from behind and threatened her with the knife, before making off with the contents of her wallet and a wad of cash, authorities said.

Then again . . .

Green also bragged in court about his ability to beat lie-detector tests, and about how he milked defense lawyers for $6,000 and a trip to Vegas.