According to Gallup, Americans’ economic confidence and sense of well being both rose in January. Gallup’s Life Evaluation Index, which asks Americans to rate their current and future lives on a scale from 0 to 10, climbed to its highest level in 11 months, increasing to 50.1 from 48.4 in December. The number of respondents classified as thriving as opposed to struggling or suffering increased to 53.4 percent from 51.9 percent the month before. Americans’ improving sense of well being is tied to gains in economic confidence. According to Gallup’s Economic Confidence Index, which has been rising since August of last year, the country’s confidence in the economy is at its highest level since May 2011, though it isn’t as high as it was a year ago. More here and here.