Confident consumers brighten U.S. economic outlook

U.S. consumer sentiment and spending both hit five-month highs heading into the end of the year, the latest sign of sustained strength in the economy and fostering hopes of a strong 2014. Consumer spending rose in November at the strongest pace since June and an upbeat sentiment reading for December suggests consumers will keep shopping despite tepid income growth. Consumer spending rose 0.5 percent after gaining 0.4 percent in October, the Commerce Department said on Monday. The rise matched economists' expectations and was the seventh consecutive month of increases in consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity.

via Business News - Yahoo Finance http://finance.yahoo.com/news/u-consumer-spending-brightens-economic-134823720.html