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American households were more upbeat last year on average than at any time since 2007, according to figures in the Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index released Jan. 5.

Fewer Americans filed applications for unemployment benefits last week, validating the Federal Reserve’s view of a vigorous labor market.

Confidence among U.S. small businesses surged in November by the most since the spring of 2009 as companies grew decidedly upbeat about sales and economic prospects after the presidential election, a report from the National Federation of Independent Business showed Dec. 13.

While total construction outlays unexpectedly dropped 0.4% in September, the values of nonresidential projects and home building used to calculate gross domestic product were higher than the Commerce Department assumed in its first estimate of third-quarter growth.

Here’s one key takeaway from the Commerce Department’s report Jan. 4 on U.S. construction spending: The 0.4% decrease in November, which itself was weaker than the most pessimistic Bloomberg News survey forecast, was accompanied by downward revisions to prior months.

Optimism among chief financial officers about the U.S. economy dimmed in the second half of this year, helping explain why companies plan to temper spending on equipment and hold more cash in 2016.