Consumer confidence jumped to the highest level since 2004, extending a surge in Americans’ optimism for their finances and the U.S. economy following Donald Trump’s election victory. The University of Michigan said Friday that its final index of sentiment rose to 98.2 from 93.8 in November. The median projection in a Bloomberg survey called for 98, equal to the preliminary reading released earlier this month. Inflation expectations for the next five to 10 years fell to a record low. A record share of respondents “spontaneously mentioned” the expected impact of Trump’s policies, more than double the number when ... (full story)