As we begin 2012, an election year, the United States faces many difficult economic and financial issues, even amid recent signs of improvement. The tough issues include national debt of $15.2 trillion and rising, 8.5 percent unemployment that would be even higher if the labor force was growing, flat wage growth, and rising levels of poverty.

A couple weeks back, the news headlines shouted that the national unemployment rate had declined to 8.6 percent in November from 9 percent the prior month. 

American consumers are feeling much better about the state of the U.S. economy and opening their wallets at the cash register as we head into the meat of the holiday season.