It's finally time, loyal readers, to stop obsessing about the political earthquake of 2016.

Americans made their choices. Many opted for the familiar status quo candidate, while a slightly lower percentage took a risk on the outsider who eventually won despite losing the popular vote. Too many eligible voters abstained, choosing to let just 57.9 percent of their fellow citizens decide who would be the most powerful world leader for the next four years.

And then we analyzed. Oh, how we analyzed. Blame — or credit — was directed at the Electoral College system, racism, xenophobia, the FBI, the Russians, neglect of the Rust Belt, a tone-deaf establishment candidate or big government run amok. Or all of the above. Some will continue to search for answers, and books will be written.

The date on the top of this editorial, however, is Jan. 1, 2017. It's time to move on. And readers looking for reasons to feel optimistic about the U.S., and more specifically its economy, need to look no further than the recently released Consumer Confidence Index for December.

The closely watched indicator from the nonpartisan Conference Board rose to its highest level in more than 15 years last month, buoyed by postelection consumer hopefulness about the economy, jobs and income. The index jumped to 113.7 in December, compared with a revised 109.4 in November. President-elect Donald Trump, as he is wont to do, quickly took credit, tweeting "Thanks Donald!"

Some consumers, especially those with higher incomes, are no doubt banking on Trump's promises to cut taxes and business regulations while increasing spending on infrastructure. The stock market has hit record highs since his election. But the Consumer Confidence Index rally brought the measure above the 100 benchmark for the first time last year in July — when a Trump victory seemed unlikely — and it's worth noting that the index stood at 25.3 in February 2009 as the Great Recession wreaked havoc on the nation's psyche.

Nevertheless, the December 2016 gift should be appreciated. "We're definitely ending 2016 on a much more upbeat note than we began the year," Lynn Franco, director of economic indicators for the Conference Board, told an editorial writer last week.

Although consumer assessments of current economic conditions dipped slightly in December, those surveyed were more confident about the six-month outlook for business conditions, job growth, incomes and the stock market. The biggest jump came in households headed by respondents 55 and older, although those between 35 and 54 were also slightly more optimistic.

Those findings are consistent with the late flurry of shopping that boosted estimated U.S. holiday spending to the highest year-over-year increase in more than a decade.

Trump will inherit an economy with a strong foundation, even though growth has been tepid during President Obama's eight years. It remains to be seen if Trump's economic policies will be effective — his budget math and war on trade give many economists pause — and Franco wasn't offering any predictions. She did, however, offer a note of caution on the bullish December survey. "For these levels of optimism to be maintained, people's expectations have to be materialized."

If they are — and if average Americans benefit along with the wealthy — a resounding "Thanks Donald!" will be in order.