The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index rose to a reading of 73.7 in November (1985=100), its highest level in more than four and a half years. “This month’s moderate improvement was the result of an uptick in expectations, while consumers’ assessment of present-day conditions continues to hold steady,” said Lynn Franco, director of economic indicators at The Conference Board. “Over the past few months, consumers have grown increasingly more upbeat about the current and expected state of the job market, and this turnaround in sentiment is helping to boost confidence.”