STRANGE SORT OF HOOVERVILLE:

Consumer Confidence Increases in January (ANNE D'INNOCENZIO , 01.31.2006, AP

Americans grew more optimistic about the job market in January, sending a widely followed measure of consumer confidence to its highest level in three and a half years. The report Tuesday from the Conference Board showed, however, that consumers are still uneasy about the future.

The private research group said its consumer confidence index rose to 106.3, the highest level since June 2002, when the reading was also 106.3. The latest measure was up from a revised 103.8 in December, and continued a rebound that began in November following the Gulf Coast hurricanes. Analysts had expected a reading of 105.0 in January.