WASHINGTON (AP) — FEELING UPBEAT: Americans’ confidence in the economy inched closer to a 5 ½-year high on rosier expectations for the next six months.

THE NUMBERS: The Conference Board, a New York-based private research group, said consumer confidence index rose to 81.5 in August. That’s up from a revised reading of 81 in July. And it’s just below the 82.1 reading in June, which was the highest since January 2008.

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