In the key housing sector, the combination of low-interest rates, improved affordability and the reduction in new construction should be helpful in the effort to work down the huge inventory of 4.2 million unsold properties nationwide, that are now on the market. It is also notable that consumers are receiving a massive cash-flow increase of tens of billions monthly as a result of the collapse of oil and gasoline prices. This increased cash-flow serves as a counter-balance to the effects of the ongoing recession.