US consumer confidence surged in December to nearly regain levels before the October government shutdown, according to the leading monthly survey of consumer sentiment released Tuesday. The improvement amid the Christmas shopping season bodes well for retailers, whose performance is often dependent on year-end revenue. Consumer spending accounts for about 70 per cent of the17-trillion-dollar US economy. The Conference Board, a New York-based business think tank, said Tuesday that this month's survey, based on polling through December17, showed its Consumer Confidence Index leaping to 78.1. "Despite the many challenges throughout 2013, consumers are in better spirits today than when the year began," Conference Board economist Lynn Franco said. From 80.2 in September, the index had plunged in October and November to a seven-month low of 72, in the wake of the 16-day October shutdown of non-essential services by the federal government, before Congress resolved its budget stalemate. The index is set to a 1985 benchmark of 100. "Consumer confidence rebounded in December and is now close topre-government shutdown levels," Franco said. Consumers were buoyed by "more favorable economic and labour-marketconditions," she said.