Americans expressed less confidence in their economy in December than at any other time during 1989 as the Consumer Confidence Index dropped two points to 113.1, an independent survey group says.

The Conference Board, which conducts surveys of the economy for major U.S. corporations, said its consumer confidence index, pegged at 100 in 1985, dropped two points from 115.1 in November.The survey of 5,000 households nationwide showed that 17.1 percent of the people polled found "ongoing business conditions as bad," up from 15.2 percent in November but surprisingly better than the 15.5 percent in December 1988.

Only 27.5 percent found that "jobs are plentiful," as opposed to 29.8 percent in November, and 33.7 percent in December 1988, the survey said.

"Although the Consumer Confidence Index has edged back in November and December, the aggregate loss of four points is relatively insignificant," said Fabian Linden, executive director at the Board.

Americans made only moderate changes in their buying plans, with 3.2 percent planning to buy a home, about the same figure as reported in the last four months but off the 3.8-percent mark in December 1988. But only 6.7 percent said they were planning on buying a car, down from 6.9 percent in November and way off 7.4 percent in the year-ago period.

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The only area where Americans were planning on spending more was vacation, with 51.8 percent of the people polled budgeting for it, up from 49 percent in November and 48.5 percent in the year-ago period.

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