The fed will have to stop stimulating the economy at some point, I'd say it's not too much of a stretch to say we're limping along. The DOW does not represent 'the economy'. Job creation is anemic, the number of non-working is a record high, we're in another bubble. Remember what happened just 5 short years ago when the housing bubble burst? It'll be fun when the almost-zero interest and free fed money bubble bursts!