U.S. economy is getting stronger, but . . .
Persistent headwinds likely to cap growth; watch out for ‘shocks'

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-economy-i...atest_news

A string of reports on employment, manufacturing and housing all show the economy is on the mend after a sharp dip last summer. This week’s data’s is relatively light — home sales and consumer confidence top the list — but there’s little reason to expect the trend to be altered.

Faster growth has been spearheaded by U.S. manufacturers, which have boosted production and hiring to meet rising demand. Hiring has also picked up in most other sectors of the economy.

With more people working, there’s more money for consumers to spend — and spend they have. Auto sales have been particularly strong, hitting their highest rate of sales in January in three years. Even the dead-in-the-water housing market has shown signs of revival.