People are getting ready to celebrate the new year. Not a bad year. Congress is more conservative, that is Republican, than ever. The US government looks like it will run a budgetary surplus this year. Unemployment bottomed in the spring, when teachers went back to school, and has gone up since then.
Unemployment is fairly low.
Things look good for the average middle American. In July, US auto companies begin rebating and giving low-interest financing in a big way. It seems that everyone has enough cars, thank you. The effect is mild. People are not as quick to borrow or spend money.