Manufacturing Is Key to Economic Recovery: Opinion

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Barack Obama and his Republican challengers don't agree about much, but they do agree that the U.S. economy can't be turned around -- and middle class prosperity saved -- without a strong contribution from manufacturing.

Consumer sentiment up, trade gap narrows

(Reuters) - An index of consumer sentiment rose to its highest in six months in early December and the trade deficit narrowed in October in the latest signs that the U.S. economy's health is slowly improving.

Consumers, businesses pump up Q3 growth

 The economy grew at its fastest pace in a year in the third quarter as consumers and businesses stepped up spending, creating momentum that could carry into the final three months of the year.