I see signs manufacturing is picking up in this country. I think the fed Chicago area report recently said the same thing.

Because people are finding ways to operate more efficiently, employment will unfortunately increase much more slowly than manufacturing. 

Housing is also rebounding, but slowly. I know several folks looking for a home. They expect a good buy however. Housing will rebound slowly largely in synch with employment. Housing may never get back to the overheated stage it was at, especially in some geographic areas. Maybe that is a good thing. More stable, if slow growth. I don't see the sky falling at all.

Jim at Dawn