Why The Economy is NOT Strong?

In a slower economy consumers genraly spend the same amount of money it really comes down to what are more and more people spending their money on? Simple. They are paying of their debts instead of buying that extra new outfit or going out to your favorite Resturant or even one less cup of coffee a week @ starbucks. Also with a not so strong dollar prices increase (inflation) while wadges stay the same hence spend less available money on what we need gasoline, food, electricity housing and getting out of personal debt and saving money in a bank. In conclusion with less availabe dollars due to the exceeding loss of purchasing power of the dollar combined with equal wadges to spend on items we want they must be spent on things we need which means a weaker economy as a nation.