Consumer confidence rises in December

An improving job market lifted consumer confidence in December, a business group says.

The Conference Board says that its consumer confidence index rose to 96.5 this month from November’s revised 92.6.

Americans were more optimistic about current conditions and about the future.

“As 2015 draws to a close, consumers’ assessment of the current state of the economy remains positive, particularly their assessment of the job market.,” said Lynn Franco, the group’s director of economic indicators.

Hiring has been healthy in 2015. Employers are adding an average of 210,000 jobs a month through November. Unemployment has stayed at a seven-year low of 5% for two straight months.