PRINCETON, N.J., Jan. 16 (UPI) -- The Gallup Poll finds growing consumer confidence in the United States in early January in spite of weak retail sales before Christmas and rising gas prices.
        
In a poll taken between Jan. 9 and Jan. 12, 43 percent of those surveyed described economic conditions as excellent or good, while only 18 percent said they were poor. The split between the two numbers of 25 points is higher than in the fall and equal to consumer confidence in January 2005

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