Despite hand-wringing over the worst recession since the 1930s, Wall Street is riding its strongest bull market in years — with stocks up broadly more than 81 percent from our recession’s bottom.

Tech stocks shined the brightest in the nearly two-year run-up, with the Nasdaq surging 104.6 percent since March 2009, when the economy and markets were in the absolute pits. Blue chips in the Dow Jones Industrial Average are up 75 percent in the comeback rally.

Meanwhile, several good news reports yesterday showed surprise improvements in hiring and consumer spending.

“Companies are starting to deploy their cash stash and increase hiring, as consumers are opening their wallets a little wider,” said economist Sal Guatieri at BMO Capital Markets Inc.

The Labor Department reported stronger-than-expected hiring of 159,000 in the private sector in October — the 10th straight month of job gains.

“Seeing that is definitely a very good sign,” said portfolio chief Zach Jonson at ICON Materials Fund.

While unemployment remains stuck at 9.6 percent, it hasn’t choked off consumer spending, said the Federal Reserve.

Americans unexpectedly increased their borrowing in September by the most in two years, fueled by college loans and auto financing, the Fed said.

Consumers are also paying their credit cards on time, with past-due and delinquent cards dropping to their lowest levels since 2001, said the American Bankers Association.

The bruised dollar strengthened to $1.4037 against the euro vs. $1.4207 the previous day.

The Dow rose 9.24 to 11,444.08, while the S&P gained 4.79 to 1,225.85. The Nasdaq slipped 1.64 to 2,578.98. tharp@nypost.com