With Fed tapering on hold for another month, what's the next hurdle for the US economy to clear

With Fed tapering on hold for another month, what's the next hurdle for the US economy to clear? US economic news has slowly but surely been improving, with no glaring weaknesses over which to be concerned. So of course, it's time for the politicians to mess things up. In the next few weeks, the US will hit its so-called debt ceiling unless Congress votes to raise it. If the government reaches its borrowing limit, it will force many non-vital government offices to shut down. Plus, it could result in rating agencies lowering the credit rating on US Treasuries. It will almost certainly roil the financial markets as well. Because Republicans are planning on including a clause which defunds Obamacare in exchange for a debt-ceiling increase, a major showdown is nearly inevitable in Washington. Stay tuned.