CONSUMER CONFIDENCE DIPS IN DECEMBER

Americans were a bit less confident about the economy this month than they were in November, but their spirits remained high overall during the holiday shopping season. The Conference Board said Wednesday that its consumer confidence index dipped to

122.1 in December from a revised

128.6 in November. “Despite the decline in confidence, consumers’ expectations remain at historically strong levels, suggesting economic growth will continue well into 2018,” said Conference Board economist Lynn Franco.