On a two-day trip to promote his energy policy, President Obama said the nation must invest in alternative energy or cede leadership to China. He called on Congress to help create jobs by providing more aid to struggling homeowners and investing more in infrastructure.

Commentator Megan McArdle says no president has that much control over the economy.

What if the U.S. economy is becoming the economic engine that keeps the global economy out of recession?

U.S. households are ahead of the other major industrial nations in shedding debts.