Consumer confidence ends year on high note

Consumer confidence rose in December amid lower gas prices and a stronger job market.



The index of consumer confidence rose to 96.5 in December from a revised 92.6 in November, the Conference Board said Tuesday. (The November reading originally was put at 90.4, the lowest level in more than a year.) Economists expected a rise to 93.6, according to Bloomberg.



"As 2015 draws to a close, consumers' assessment of the current state of the economy remains positive, particularly their assessment of the job market," stated Lynn Franco, director of economic indicators at the Conference Board.



Looking ahead to 2016, consumers are expecting little change in both business conditions and the labor market, Franco added.



“Expectations regarding their financial outlook are mixed, but the optimists continue to outweigh the pessimists,” she said.