The consumer confidence index increased to 113.7 in December from a revised 109.4 last month, The Conference Board reported Tuesday.
The November index was originally reported as 107.1.
Economists polled by Thomson Reuters predicted a 108.5 reading for the index.
The present situation index slid to 126.1 from a revised 132.0, first reported as 130.3, while the expectations index gained to 105.5 from a revised 94.4, first reported as 91.7.
"Consumer Confidence improved further in December, due solely to increasing Expectations which hit a 13-year high (Dec. 2003, 107.4)," said Lynn Franco, director of economic indicators for The Conference Board. "The post-election surge in optimism for the economy, jobs and income prospects, as well as for stock prices which reached a 13-year high, was most pronounced among older consumers. Consumers' assessment of current conditions, which declined, still suggests that economic growth continued through the final months of 2016. Looking ahead to 2017, consumers' continued optimism will depend on whether or not their expectations are realized."
Business conditions were called "good" by 29.2% of respondents in December, off from 29.7% of respondents in November. Those saying conditions are "bad" rose to 17.3% from 15.2%.
The percentage of consumers expecting a pickup in business conditions in the next half year grew to 23.6% from 16.4%, while 8.9% said they expect conditions to worsen, off from 9.9% in the prior month.
On the jobs front, those who believe jobs are "plentiful" slid to 26.9% in December from 27.8% in November, while the number saying jobs are "hard to get" rose to 22.5% from 21.2%. The respondents who see fewer jobs becoming available in a half year, climbed to 14.0% from 13.5%. Those expecting more jobs to become available increased to 21.0% from 16.1%, The Conference Board reported.
The consumer confidence survey is based on a probability design random sample by the Nielsen Company.
