U.S. Economic Confidence Surged 11 Points Last Week: Gallup

Gallup says its U.S. Economic Confidence Index surged to -18 for the week ending Sept. 9, up 11 points from -29 the prior week, putting the index near the high point for the year.

For the previous two months the index sat well below -20, which Gallup said was weighed down by continued high unemployment.

At -18, the index is also on par with the highest levels seen since the start of Gallup Daily tracking in January 2008.

Gallup said last week's 11-point jump is also the biggest one-week improvement in the Gallup Economic Confidence Index since its inception, although it roughly matches the 10-point gain that occurred the week after the killing of Osama bin Laden in May 2011.