The economic reports this week were mixed. Consumers continue to take on more debt, a sign that the household deleveraging has ended and that the household spending is taking over as an economic driver. The trade deficit shrank to its lowest level since the global recession due in part to surging exports of petroleum products and the lowest oil imports in more than 15 years. This reflects the growing impact of unconventional energy development from shale in the U.S. Abroad, global manufacturing expanded and signals that the downturn in global manufacturing ended in December. Stay informed. Subscribe to ACC's Weekly Economic Report.