US – Is the recovery really here now? Yes indeed.

It seems real this time.

1. The unemployment rate is down: In U.S., Unadjusted Unemployment at 7.3% in Mid-October

U.S. unemployment, as measured by Gallup without seasonal adjustment, is 7.3% in mid-October, down considerably from 7.9% at the end of September and at a new low since Gallup began collecting employment data in January 2010. Gallup’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 7.7%, also down from September. October’s adjusted mid-month measure is also more than a percentage point lower than October 2011.

via In U.S., Unadjusted Unemployment at 7.3% in Mid-October.

2. The Housing market is picking up: Welcome to the Recovery!* (*Seriously, We Promise, It’s Real This Time) – Business – The Atlantic

In 2010, our economy seemed to be rounding a corner, and Goldman Sachs led the economic cheerleaders by predicting that the next year would be “the Year of the USA.” Then gas prices spiked, growth dropped to 1% in the summer, and we barely got to September without defaulting on our debt on purpose.

In 2011, our economy seemed to be rounding a corner again, with job creation regaining momentum. But so far, 2012 has been a clone of 2011. GDP growth has wavered between 1.5% and 2% (just like last year) and job creation has hovered just under 150,000 per month (just like last year).

Now, for the third straight year, there is cause to wax optimistic in the fall. But this year is different for one big reason: The housing economy truly seems to have turned a corner.

Houses and cars make and break recoveries. In 1971, car and home sales accounted for half of the economic recovery. In 1981, they accounted for a third. But in this recovery, depressed residential investment has been the single greatest enemy of growth. That’s starting to change.

Housing starts (i.e.: breaking ground on new homes) are up 25% from last year…

via Welcome to the Recovery!* (*Seriously, We Promise, It’s Real This Time) – Business – The Atlantic.

3. Retail sales jump :US retail sales jumped 1.1% in September

Americans stepped up their spending at retail businesses in September, reflecting their growing confidence in the U.S. economy.

Retail sales rose 1.1 percent last month, the Commerce Department said Monday. That followed a 1.2 percent increase in August, which was revised slightly higher. Both were the largest gains since October 2010.

Sales rose in most major categories. Electronics and appliance store sales jumped 4.5 percent. The increase was driven in part by the latest iPhone, which Apple began selling last month. Sales at auto dealers increased 1.3 percent. Gas station sales also rose 2.5 percent, reflecting higher prices.

Excluding autos and gas, sales were still up a solid 0.9 percent in September. One area of weakness was department store sales, which fell 0.2 percent after no change in August..

via US retail sales jumped 1.1% in September.