Moving from 53.1 in the prior month to 56.3 in the most recent reading, the current conditions component expanded in December, marking the third consecutive month in which it gained strength. Nearly a third of survey respondents reported “better” conditions in December, with 50 percent noting that the business environment remained “unchanged” from the previous month. Mixed, but largely positive, views of economic conditions were tempered somewhat by reports of stagnant to slowing orders activity along with geopolitical concerns.