Nationwide: Growing Economy Will Help Investors Fight Fed

The increasingly healthy economy will help push stocks higher in coming months even while the Federal Reserve is gradually raising interest rates, said David Berson, Chief Economist at Nationwide Insurance. Berson said growth in the U.S. will continue to top 3% and our economy will not be pulled down by sluggishness in Europe, China and Japan. He added that lower gas prices will help retailers this holiday season and lift consumer sentiment higher, even if wages remain stagnant for a little longer. Finally, Berson said the stronger dollar may hurt earnings slightly, but it will help on the inflation front.