According to the Institute for Supply Management, in December a key indicator of manufacturing health was at a six-month high.

Two surveys out today have spenders and scholars upbeat about the health of the U.S. economy, for now at least.

The latest data from Gallup show that people are feeling better about the economy this holiday season, but worse about the U.S. government.

From July to September, American families purchased more, even as their net worth shrank faster than it has at any time since the worst of the financial crisis.

The monthly consumer confidence number came out today and it was up — way up — from last month. On a scale of 100, the November number was 56, compared with October's 41. That's the biggest one-month jump since 2003.

This morning we had two important indexes released: Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index and the Case Shiller index of home values. Despite…

U.S. may grade car fuel economy…

… the company reports $1.3 billion in profits– IPO to come Car dealers face higher demand with short supply New jobless claims rise again For…

/**/ … good news? Well, not as bad as feared. (Hope the Gulf can say the same.) Home prices up, but consumer confidence down. Big manufac…