It's been a rough year for the economy, with federal budget cuts and tax increases holding back expansion, and growth muddling along at the 2 percent or so rate that has prevailed for more than four years.
First, household formation is heading up nicely – people who bunked with parents, put their marriage plans on hold or stayed in that ratty apartment with three college friends are apparently spreading their wings. That should boost housing demand, not to mention consumer traffic at Bed, Bath and Beyond.
Second, households have largely tackled their debt problems – or are at least on the path to doing so. A debt profile poised for disaster – at an average of more than 130 percent of household disposable income – is quickly heading below 100 percent, good news for consumer spending.
So those two trends could create the raw fuel for healthy economic expansion in 2014. If, that is, policymakers don't stand in the way.