U.S. CONSUMER CONFIDENCE AT FOUR YEAR HIGH

Buoyed by low inflation and low unemployment, the economic confidence of the nation's consumers rose this month to the highest level since mid-1990. According to the Conference Board, a business research group, increasing numbers of those surveyed believe jobs are "plentiful" and fewer say jobs are "hard to get." Based on results of a survey of 5,000 households, the December confidence level rose to 102.2, up from 100.4 just a month before.