Consumer Outlook Improves

 

Jan. 30, 2007 -- Consumer confidence edged up in January, led by gains in the job market, the Conference Board said Tuesday.

In a survey of 5,000 households nationwide, only 19.7 percent said jobs were "hard to get," compared to 21.3 percent the previous month, the New York-based private research group said.

Those claiming jobs were "plentiful" rose to 29.9 percent from 27.6 percent.

At the same time, the longer-term outlook on the economy declined, the survey found.

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