The Good, The Bad and the Ugly of the U.S. Economy

By Michelle Seiler-Tucker

The U.S. economy is currently floating in limbo. Consumer data suggests economic recovery, while markets indicate greater hesitancy in U.S. monetary policy and the global economy. On the good side of things, we have consumers. Americans kicked off 2016 with a bang, showing increases in retail sales across the board. Online sales, clothing and automobiles were all up. Auto manufacturers have dirt cheap gas to thank for the increase in sales. Consumers are no longer being discouraged by expensive gas. Household purchases, which make up the bulk of consumer spending, further bolstered retail numbers. Despite setbacks in the oil industry, U.S. employers added 151,000 jobs in January – another step in the right direction for a strong economy. But what’s the bad news? [more...]