How Is Our Economy Doing?

Money. Money and how we use it is a big portion of economy. Some say money isn’t everything, and it truly isn’t everything, but it still is a lot. Where would you be without money today? Not very far. All those things we have, like the house you live in, or the food you eat and the goods/services you like to buy cost money. Money, after all, is just another form of trading. However, this form of trading is important. If we traded goods, where would bet the scientists, or other jobs that help us improve our technology? Nobody would want to be these jobs. If nobody wants these jobs, then there won't be much improvement in technology, nor would there be as many consumers for markets.

I also think about markets when I hear about economy. Markets can be as small as a lemonade stand to those gigantic businesses like apple. It's pretty cool, how businesses start so small, and become so big. Apple started from a garage. Now, apple is worth billions and billions of dollars. 
I’d quite like to learn about how the economy is doing right now, and what affects it. From what I’ve seen and heard, our economy is not doing well. I am curious in why that is. I also want to learn about some problems occurring in the economy, because it is probably hard to keep the economy growing. Why would an economy thrive or weaken? What do you think?