Wages

Workers at state-run companies in China are riding pretty high. Beyond standard salaries, there are often a lot of perks for state workers, including mortgage payments, groceries, fancy cars. And it's all tax free.

A study by the Economic Policy Institute has found that for men and women between 23 and 29, the average income dropped between 7 and 11 percent in the past decade.

The dip in unemployment and job claims indicate optimism -- but wages fell sharply for the majority of American workers last year in a way that they haven't since 2007.

Macroeconomic signs point to a brighter future, but average Americans are still struggling with the basics.