Submitted by Juan Cajigas, from the UK

By Tanya Powley

The number of mortgages approved for house purchase rose in November to 60,518, the highest level since March 2008, according to the latest figures from the Bank of England (BoE).

Oliver Gilmartin, senior economist at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, said the BoE’s figures supported its view that “increasing momentum” in the housing market would see further rises in house prices during early 2010.

Read the full story here…

RICHMOND, Virginia (Reuters) – The U.S. economy will expand at a decent clip this year as a recovery in housing and consumer spending offset troubles in commercial real estate, Richmond Fed President Jeffrey Lacker said on Friday.

Read the full story here…

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. consumer prices rose modestly last month, while a cold snap lifted industrial output, suggesting the economy was growing but not generating enough inflation to trouble the Federal Reserve.  Read the full story here…

I get emails from time to time froms other bloggers wanting to exchange links, and every once in a while one strikes me the right way and I respond.  This guy, Joe Fermano who I believe is from NJ (I love the Jersey Shore thank you), has a blog “how to use your life” and you know what?  He’s really refreshing.  He’s not selling anything, his blog isn’t even monetized (much like this one), and watch a couple of his vids and you can see he’s authentically committed to sharing his zest for life and helping others to do the same.

So I feel compelled at this point to encourage you to visit his blog, particularly his latest video HERE and get a dose of Joe.  For the same reasons I started this site, he started his.  Although mine is focused on the positive news in the economy, he is more broadly focused on the positive in LIFE, and I love it!  With all the trash, lies, speculation, fighting, arguing and trolling that goes on here on the web, it’s nice to find and share truly positively spirited people who have no agenda other than to help uplift the rest of us.  The title of this entry comes from his latest video and I thin it’s so very appropriate for our times.  When you believe things are going to be ok, or that you’ll get through, then you’ll see it happen.

So Joe, I don’t know you, but I’m glad you shot me that email… I’ll post a permanent link later on today… So folks, the US is going to be OK, I believe it, I always have. We’re a country of survivors and freedom and helping others…Just look at what’s transpiring in Haiti…incredible how this country responds when we believe.

Peace and balance…and thanks again Joe!

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The number of U.S. workers filing new jobless claims edged up by a slim 1,000 last week and a gauge of underlying labor market trends hit a nearly 16-month low, evidence the job market continues to heal.

Read the full story here…

NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. retailers posted better-than-expected December sales, and many raised profit forecasts as they benefited from a late holiday shopping surge and discounts that were more modest than a year ago.

Read the full story HERE…

SHANGHAI (Reuters) – The labor market in the United States is improving and the economy is close to the point when the unemployment rate will start to fall, a top U.S. Federal Reserve official said on Thursday.

Read the full story here….

OMAHA, Neb. – Middle America’s business sector appears optimistic about the region’s economy over next six months, despite signs that suggest the economy will see a weak recovery in 2010, according to a survey of business leaders and supply managers in nine Midwest and Plains states released Monday.

The Business Conditions Index for the Mid-America region rose to 50.3 in December, compared with…read the full story here.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Federal Reserve sees a moderate economic recovery continuing in 2010, but needs to keep interest rates “exceptionally low” for an “extended period” to foster job growth, a Fed policymaker said on Monday.

Read the full story here…

NEW YORK (Reuters) – The U.S. manufacturing sector grew at its fastest pace in nearly four years in December, its fifth consecutive month of expansion, adding to hopes of economic improvement in 2010.

Read the full story here…