An increase in household spending could help drive economic growth this year

Infometrics is forecasting the first positive economic outlook in years.

It expects a pickup through the year, and average GDP growth at 0.5 percent each quarter.

Chief Forecaster Gareth Kiernan says lower interest rates are putting money back in families' pockets.

He says the surplus in household budgets will go from eight million dollars a week, to 45 million, by year's end.