US consumers show more confidence in economy

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

A strong job market and low gasoline prices helped boost U.S. consumer confidence again this month.

The Conference Board on Tuesday said that its consumer-confidence index rose to 98.1 in January from 96.3 in December, the second-straight monthly gain. The business-research group said Americans were more confident about the future, though their assessment of current economic conditions was unchanged from December.

Consumers shrugged off the recent sharp decline in the stock market and signs of economic weakness overseas.

“The increase is rather surprising given the volatility in equities in the month,” Derek Lindsey, economist at BNP Paribas, wrote in a research note. “A resilient labor market and low gasoline and utilities prices seem to have offset any negative sentiment stemming from financial markets.”