@ Brookings Podcast: Consumer Holiday Spending Boosts Economy

After years of dismal economic news and caution on the part of consumers, spending this holiday season has ticked up, giving economists cautious optimism that the sluggish recovery may be increasing its pace.  Karen Dynan, vice president and co-director of the Economic Studies program, says there are several signals that the economy may be awakening from the Great Recession, but she warns that the economy is still struggling.