Consumer Confidence at Highest Since April

The consumer confidence index published by the Conference Board reached an eight-month high of 64.5 in December, up significantly from a revised reading of 55.2 in November.

And the good news doesn’t stop there:

Looking ahead, consumers are more optimistic that business conditions, employment prospects, and their financial situations will continue to get better. While consumers are ending the year in a somewhat more upbeat mood, it is too soon to tell if this is a rebound from earlier declines or a sustainable shift in attitudes.

The Conference Board’s numbers jibes with an earlier report this morning from Gallup. The best news, of course, is that consumers see employment growing and the US economy regaining some growth. Neither development is a slam-dunk at this point.