I think the US economy as a whole is in good shape because of the mind frame of the people. Just the right mix of ignorance and blind faith in just the right amount of people can do wonders for an economy. They say the economy is "all in your mind," a large part of it is, and it seems that the American people just always assume that we're doing okay overall and continue to buy, really, no matter what.
It sounds odd, but compared to other cultures, and ours in different time periods, it seems to fit. We still challenge authority, but oddly, ultimately we trust that the economy is doing fine and we will buy despite what "experts" might say in their crazy techno-babble.