The Consumer Confidence rating soared in November due to falling gas prices and a pickup in the job market. The hope is that consumers will buy heftly this holiday season, although sales did not get off to a good start. The rating rose to 98.9, the highest since August. In the month of November gas prices declined by 40 cents a gallon.

"It looks like consumers will be in a more giving mood," said Gary Thayer, chief economist at A.G. Edwards & Sons in St. Louis. But he added, "I don't think they will spend with abandon. There are still some tight financial problems for many people. We probably will see active shopping for bargains."