After years of high inflation and a looming recession that never quite happened, Americans are suddenly much more optimistic about the economy. Positive sentiment about the economy has surged by 29% since the beginning of December — the largest two-month increase since 1991, according to the closely watched University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers. This confidence is echoed by other recent metrics, including a survey by Morgan Stanley showing that consumer sentiment hit a five-month high in January. Similarly, the percentage of American adults who expect their finances to be the same or better a year from now is ... (full story)