Sorry folks. Didn't know which thread to put this one under:
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040601/us_nm/economy_dc_3
"Factories, Construction Are Booming"
"NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. factories cranked up output at a cracking pace in May and construction spending surged to a third straight record high in April, according to reports on Tuesday that showed the economy gathering speed."
You can read the rest of the article at the address provided above.
As good as any place.
We forget that the economic growth occurring now demands energy. That's a significant part of the reason for the $2 a gallon gas price. Though fears of attacks in the mideast are part of the high cost of gas, it's not the only reason.
Unfortunately I agree with jmfcst that it's hard for consumers to look past the price of gas when judging the economy.