Today the aluminum company Alcoa kicks off America's quarterly corporate earnings season. Markets are bracing for disappointing numbers which may last through the Summer and Fall.

Like the rest of us, companies are still uncertain of the economic future. But spending and investing could help to push the economy forward.

'Fiscal cliff' has been a key phrase being bandied about in economic talks. And with automatic spending cuts set to kick off at the beginning of 2013, the country may be ready to jump.