November consumer confidence rises

U.S. consumers’ confidence in the
economy rose in November to the highest in more than a year, as
hiring picked up and views about job prospects improved, a
private research group reported.


The New York-based Conference Board’s consumer confidence
index rose to 91.7 this month, more than expected, from a revised
81.7 in October. The percentage of people who saw jobs as hard to
get fell to 29.5 from 33.7.


After three consecutive months of job gains, economists
expect prospects for continued improvement in the labor market
will sustain consumer spending into the new year, good news for
holiday sales at retailers from AnnTaylor Stores Corp. to Wal-
Mart Stores Inc.


Bloomberg News