Where is the economy going? The Federal Reserve in its September 2023 meeting seemed to shrug its shoulders. Interest rate hikes are on hold for now, but the body said the "extent of these effects remains uncertain."

Things are better, but maybe not as well as many would like. That shouldn't be a surprise because it reflects the developing dual narrative threads based on the complications and contradictions in the economy and society.

Start with the good news crowd. The other day, Secretary Treasury Janet Yellen told Reuters that a so-called soft landing — basically a recovery without a recession — was still possible in the context of a United Auto Workers strike against the three major car and light truck manufacturers. The shocks of entire plant shutdowns will ripple through other companies and the extended influence on all those people not working. Or deliveries that don't happen. Or consumers that can't find goods and don't buy them as a result.