Consumer Confidence Rises to Highest Level in Four Months

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.S. consumer confidence jumped in December to the highest level in four months, the New York-based Conference Board said Wednesday.

The group’s index of consumer confidence for the month rose to 103.6 from a revised 98.3.

The reading was above analysts’ forecasts of a 103 reading, Bloomberg reported.

The consumer confidence index is a predictor of consumer spending. When people are feel-ing less confident about the economy, they are less likely to spend money, which decreases demand for trucking services.

The index’s level was at 105.5 in August, before Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit, and it has averaged 97.5 over the past five years.

Consumers' outlook for the next six months rose to 91.6, also the highest level in four months, from 88.4 last month.

The percentage of those who said jobs were hard to get fell to 22.2% from 23.6% last month. Those who said jobs were plentiful rose to 23.3% from 21.1%.

Every month the Conference Board surveys 5,000 households on general economic conditions, their employment prospects and spending plans.