I can’t help laughing at this contradictory and ultimately pointless economic article at the BBC, “Unexpected Rise in Consumer Confidence.”  It features this wonderful nugget

“While consumers were more optimistic about the future, their perception of the current situation deteriorated.”

while at the same time (and this is what is so wonderful about the BBC News website) providing contextually related links to the side, like:

US prices jump most in two years

US factory prices at 34-year high

New US jobs slow in November

Dollar up on hopes for economy

Productivity lift for US economy

US reduces 2008 growth forecast

US house prices continue to slide

Thanksgiving dinner cost ‘up 11%’

US figures point to slowdown