US consumer confidence reported at a standstill

US consumer confidence failed to improve in December after a brief spurt the previous month, the Conference Board reports. A survey of 5,000 families showed the consumer confidence index (1969-70 equals 100) closed at 54.4 in December, virtually unchanged from November's 54.8 reading. The index of buying plans fell back to 75.4, down from 80.5 in November. Consumer expectations for the next six months remained roughly unchanged.