The 2024 economy could top 2023’s achievements

Low supply: A pedestrian in the Brickell neighborhood of Miami, Florida. Lower rates should also help address the acute lack of inventory in the housing market. — Bloomberg

THE American consumer ended 2023 with a burst of economic good cheer, relatively speaking. (Which is to say: happier than they were a few months ago, not as happy as they were a few years ago.)

Even better, they expect the good times to continue into 2024, for both themselves and the nation. They’re right: There is ample reason to be optimistic about the US economy.