US consumer confidence dropped in December
to the lowest level since peak of the financial turmoil in 2009. The sentiment
index lost 2 points compared to November and reached minus 33, the lowest figure since February 2009. Index for expectations about the economy tumbled 8
points at minus 41, the weakest since January 2009. Pre-Christmas spending has not boosted
optimism, said Nick Moon, managing director at GfK Social Research.