Commentary A few months ago, all economic indicators seemed to line up well. They painted a positive picture. Despite Omicron and supply chain problems, it was clear that the economy was rebounding strongly from pandemic-induced strictures. Consumers were buying, and businesses were ordering new equipment and systems. Families were purchasing new homes and builders were scrambling to construct them. “Help Wanted” signs appeared everywhere. More recently the picture has become mixed. Indeed, it has become downright contradictory. A recent report from the Labor Department shows historically robust hiring and a welcome flow of new entrants into the workforce. At the same time, the recent report on the fourth quarter’s gross domestic product (GDP) signals weakness in most sectors. Retail sales have declined as have business orders. Even government spending has slowed. Hiring and sales cannot go in divergent directions for long. Unless sales pick up and soon, jobs growth will …