Wages are up above inflation. Asset prices are strong. Job market is strong. Inflation is dropping. Consumer spending is strong.
Other than inflation currently being a bit above target, which numbers are people unhappy about?
If you own a house with a fixed rate mortgage then inflation will have a heavily muted effect on your personal financial situation since your (most likely) largest expense isn't effected.
However, people look around and see that they can't afford to move to a different house of similar size/quality because prices and interest rates are so high. And they definitely can't afford to move out of that starter house into something with an extra bedroom so they can start a family or take care of an aging parent.
This creates a deep sense of instability and the sensation that you are stuck where you are, and people generally don't like feeling unstable or stuck.
I truly believe 99% of the economic woe in America can be traced back to the lack of housing.
In the modern economy, you don't get raises anymore, you get a new job every 2-3 years. Anyone who is upset that they haven't gotten raises to keep up with inflation has only themselves to blame.
A side note - I am a little wary at how frequently economic figures have been revised recently. It makes suspicious when people are surprised at good news that seems to go against sentiment. I fear that in a couple of years time, the Fed might discover Dave's spreadsheet included December twice or something.
They aren't revised any more often than normal, nor are the revisions large.
> It makes suspicious when people are surprised at good news that seems to go against sentiment.
The aspects if sentiment that historically vary closely with conditions (e.g., the current conditions portion of consumer confidence) are as consistent with recent good news as they have been with econonic news historically. The future expectations portion of consumer confidence, and aggregate “sentiment” measures that don't break out components, may seem inconsistent with current news, but that's also not historically unusual.
The article and discussion are about sentiment about, and behavior and general conditions in, the US economy, so that seems to be a non-sequitur.
I'm in Washington and I see no growth or opportunity around here.
Doesn't matter if we have 10000 more jobs if they suck.
The "recruitinghell" subreddit highlights many of these problems.