Nampa (670 KBOI News) – The GDP numbers for the first quarter of 2019 are out, and they indicate the economy is humming right along, despite the so-called government shutdown, and the gloom and doom predictions of a coming recession.

NNU economist Dr. Peter Crabb says that tells us how well the economy did, but as for a measure of how confident people are in the economy looking forward, watch how stocks are doing.

“These are where people who have money to invest are putting their money to work,” said Crabb.  “So they are taking a position on what the outlook is for the economy.  And the most recent numbers, from the stock market in particular, say their outlook is pretty positive.”

Crabb says the GDP report also shows more people are investing back into their businesses, which generally means wages are going up.