Consumer-confidence gauge highest since 2008

Led by brighter views on present employment and business conditions, the Conference Board’s gauge of consumer confidence jumped in October to the highest level since February 2008, the New York-based research group said Thursday.

The consumer-confidence index increased to 72.2 last month from a downwardly revised 68.4 in September. A prior estimate for September pegged the level at 70.3.

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