ECONOMY

Help-Wanted Ad Volume Up: In another sign of strength in the economy, the seasonally adjusted index compiled by the Conference Board rose to 138 in December from 134 a month earlier. It registered 117 a year earlier. “Employers are still busy seeking qualified job applicants,” Conference Board economist Kenneth Goldstein said. Because newspaper advertising volume is sensitive to labor market conditions, the Conference Board’s help-wanted index has come to be regarded as a useful tool for gauging the local, regional and national supply of jobs and to some extent the health of the economy.