Just a quick rundown of top economic stories on this first business day of the new year:

Manufacturing grew at its fastest pace in 20 years (since the Reagan administration) in December.
Hiring will pick up in 2004 according to economists, with unemployment dropping .5% to 5.5% by November (as per my 2004 Predictions).
Stock markets are up across the board, with Dow and NASDAQ safely above 10000 and 2000, respectively.

Stay tuned for more good news on the recovery. And to think it’s all happening without nearly doubling our taxes, as Dr. Dean wants to do.