Dive Brief:

• Economists at the nation’s largest banks have forecast that the U.S. economy will grow more in 2015 than it did last year, by 2.9%, compared with 2.5%.

• The American Bankers Association Economic Advisory Committee credited an improving housing market, dwindling household debt, and the passing of “the days of aggressive fiscal austerity” by the federal government.

• The 15 economists in the survey predicted that the Federal Reserve Bank will maintain low interest rates for the first half of the year and then introduce a “gentle” increase this summer.

Dive Insight:

The committee said the economy is healing, especially in the real estate and banking sectors. The economists predict continued low inflation, job growth and falling energy prices—all factors that encourage consumer spending.