Reply #52: oh, but that report says you have achieved happiness in time for xmas!

[UpInArms]

U.S. consumers brighten in time for the holidays

http://today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=bondsNews&storyID=2005-12-09T174500Z_01_N0842457_RTRIDST_0_ECONOMY-WRAPUP-2.XML

CHICAGO, Dec 9 (Reuters) - U.S. consumer sentiment brightened in early December, suggesting an upbeat mood heading into the holiday shopping season, data showed on Friday.

Confidence jumped for a second straight month as the gloom of Hurricane Katrina and record high gasoline prices in late summer faded into memory. The job market picked up steam as well.

The University of Michigan's closely watched consumer sentiment measure rose to 88.7 in early December from November's final 81.6. Wall Street analysts had forecast the index at 85.5.

The Michigan survey and other confidence indicators have closely correlated recently with gasoline prices. The national average for self-serve, regular unleaded gas on Dec. 2 fell to $2.13 a gallon, a six-month low.

"In the last month we got a good payrolls report so that probably helped," said Elisabeth Denison, economist at Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein in New York. November U.S. payrolls growth was a four-month high at 215,000.

...more...

Now, be happy! Damnit!

(please note: I do not believe this report a bit - it attempts to convince me of feelings I do not possess and a reality that I did not experience last weekend)