Sweet & sour: Economists upbeat on economy; consumers, less so

In the most recent surveys on sentiment, economists see slightly better days ahead, while consumers are not so certain.

Economists surveyed this month by Bloomberg News now expect the U.S. economy to expand faster than previously forecast, for both the second half of 2009 and in 2010. Economists surveyed anticipate 1.5 percent GDP growth in the second half of this year, compared with a 1.2 percent growth forecast in June; they also see 2.1 percent GDP growth in 2010.