The economy is gaining momentum and should push through next year with only a few bruises despite an almost certain European recession and slower global growth. A firming in the anemic labor market should put the economy in reasonable shape to withstand headwinds from overseas, although the recovery will likely slow at the start of the year after a surprisingly solid fourth quarter. "The U.S. economy will be one of the better stories in an otherwise gloomy global economy next year," said Sung Won Sohn, an economics professor at California State University in the Channel Islands. "It will not go into recession." ... (full story)