U.S. consumer confidence rose for the second month in a row in January, suggesting the economy would continue to grow in the first half of 2005, a private research group reported Tuesday.

The Conference Board, a New York-based business information group, reported that its index of consumer confidence rose by 0.7 points to 103.4 in January, up from a revised 102.7 in December.

The index surpassed economists’ forecast for a January reading of 101.0.

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