Five economic trends for which to be thankful

Amid threats to American peace and prosperity in 2014 such as Ebola, the Islamic State and social upheaval in Ferguson, there are a handful of promising economic indicators to be thankful for this holiday season, according to New York Times contributor Neil Irwin.

He outlined five positive signs that the overall economy is improving:

1. Cheaper gas and other fuels. The price of oil is dropping – down 24 percent since April – and so are the prices of other commodities, which puts more disposable income in the hands of ordinary Americans.

2. Job growth. The economy has been adding jobs since 2010, but meaningful progress was made this year.

3. More Americans are quitting. More people are voluntarily leaving their jobs, which is a sign that more workers are confident they can secure a better job than they did even a few months ago.

4. Home prices are rising at a sustainable rate. No new housing bubble is on the horizon because increases in home prices are moving up modestly.

5. We may be done deleveraging. Debt has been falling for the typical American household in recent years, but now economic data appears to show that trend is reversing. More household debt comes with risks, but it also indicates a more rapid economic recovery is occurring.  

Read more from the New York Times.