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American consumers are more upbeat about the economy than at any time in more than a year against a backdrop of steady job gains and record stock prices.

Sentiment among American consumers posted a surprise jump in October amid expectations for rising incomes and lower inflation, indicating households will continue to extend the longest-running U.S. expansion.

Growth at U.S. service industries in August comfortably topped expectations on the sharpest monthly rebound in business activity since early 2008, favorable figures that were tempered by a slowdown in hiring.

The tightest trucking market in years is testing the limits of an otherwise well-conditioned U.S. economic expansion. It also is tinder for accelerating inflation should the capacity constraints spark moves by companies to pass on those higher delivery costs.

Rising prices at the gas pump helped drive U.S. household sentiment to a seven-week low at the end of April, the Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index showed May 3.

Orders placed with U.S. factories for business equipment snapped back in February after two months of declines, consistent with steady manufacturing growth, a Commerce Department report showed March 23.

Optimism among small companies in the U.S. rose more than forecast in January, fueled by a record number of owners who said now was a good time to expand, according to a National Federation of Independent Business survey released Feb. 12.

U.S. consumer credit outstanding rose in November by the most in 16 years as credit-card balances surged, Federal Reserve data showed Jan. 8.

America’s service industries expanded in December at the weakest pace in four months as orders cooled at companies that make up the bulk of the economy, a survey from the Institute for Supply Management showed Jan. 5.

Optimism among small companies in the U.S. advanced last month to the highest level in more than 34 years as owners became more upbeat about future economic conditions and sales prospects, according to a National Federation of Independent Business survey released Dec. 12.