People are feeling better about the economy and their own financial situations, a hopeful sign they’ll act more like Santas than Grinches while holiday shopping.

The RBC CASH Index, based on polling by Ipsos, showed that consumer confidence clocked in at 85.5 in December, the second-highest reading of this year.

Economists attributed the improvement to a retreat in gasoline prices, a ramp-up in hiring and solid economic growth.