The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index rose to 102.3 in December, the highest level since July and up from November’s revised reading of 92.6. Improved employment opportunities and cheaper energy were cited for the gain. The employment picture played a key role in the growth in confidence, with the number of consumers saying jobs are “plentiful” rising to 19.4% in December from 17.1%, while those claiming jobs are “hard to get” eased to 26.4 percent from 28% in November.
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