21 Giant Companies Reveal What's Really Going On In The Economy

Dan FrommerEvery earnings season, companies share the details of their financial performance. Additionally, many managers will reveal what they are seeing and what they are expecting for the economy.

The view out of Q1 2013?

Things have turned a corner, but it's still slow going.

For instance, China is slowing down, but not so much that it will disrupt markets.

North America is looking great, especially in Mexico.

Among regions, it's really just the European Union that's really struggling — but even there, we may have bottomed out.

Consumer sentiment remains solid, even in the face of the sequester. And at least one company believes we'd be able to weather a pullback in dovish monetary policy.

Some companies are seeing scattered softness.

But overall, the snapshots indicate strength.