Has the Recession Finally Ended?

June 3, 2009— -- The economy is showing new signs of life this week, especially in the housing market, the very place where the recession started.

Make no mistake, millions of Americans are still without jobs or struggling to pay their mortgage. But a wide range of economic indicators are showing signs that maybe the worst is over.

Many buyers are taking advantage of depressed real estate prices and an $8,000 tax credit offered to first-time homebuyers. The sales are a good sign for the economy because they show that many average Americans are now willing to get back in the game.

That's the fastest sales pace for new cars and trucks for this calendar year and a 6.4 percent increase from April's figure. Big ticket purchases -- such as a new car or truck -- show consumer confidence in the economy increasing, a necessary element to get out of the recession.