NEW YORK. Dec 31: The US consumer confidence surged to a 28 year high In December as the consumers were heartened hy the robust US economy for their financial outlook, reports •Xinhua.

The New York-based conference board reported yesterday that its index of consumer confidence Jumped to 134.5 this month, a six point rise from a revised 128.1 in November, the figure, the highest since 1969, was well above the expectations of economists.

Economists regard consumer sentiment as an important factor in tracing market trends, because consumer spending accounts for two-thirds of the country's overall economic activity.

'The strength of the US economy, especially the labour market, continues to lift consumers' spirits and bolster their

expectations. said Lynn Franco, associate director of the board's consumer research center.

The consumer confidence survey is based on a representative sample of 5.000 US households.

Many people said labour market conditions are favourable, which continue to be a primary driving force in consumers' positive assessment of current economy, more than 40 per cent of respondents rate Jobs as plentiful, up from 36.4 per cent In November.

The present situation index, designed by the research group to measure consumers' current assessment of the economy, surged from 156.8 to 161.7, its highest level since 1969. The expectation's index, which attempts to measure consumers' level of confidence in the future, rose to 116.4 from 108.9.