There is no doubt that cheaper gasoline is helping. But right now in the US we seem blind to the actual strength of the economy. Car sales are about to have one

There is no doubt that cheaper gasoline is helping. But right now in the US we seem blind to the actual strength of the economy. Car sales are about to have one of their best years ever. We had such a bad downturn coupled with bad economic news from Europe then China. Add to that a Republican primary that thrives off a negative economic message and you can see powerful forces at work to drive home a message that the economy here is still pretty bad or hanging in the balance. Data like this is "surprising" mainly in that context.