Americans' confidence in the U.S. economy is higher than at any point in about two decades. The latest figure from Gallup's Economic Confidence Index is +40, the highest reading recorded since +44 in October 2000.

Americans' buoyant confidence in the economy in Gallup's latest poll, conducted Jan. 2-15, likely reflects the U.S. unemployment rate's continued stay at a 50-year low. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average continues to reach record highs -- and flirts with reaching the 30,000 marker.

Gallup's Economic Confidence Index is the average of two components: Americans' ratings of current economic conditions and their views on whether the economy is getting better or getting worse. The index has a theoretical maximum of +100, achieved if all Americans believe the economy is excellent or good and getting better. The theoretical minimum is -100, if all Americans say the economy is poor and getting worse.

The current conditions component score of +54 is the result of 62% of Americans saying the economy is "excellent" or "good" and 8% describing it as "poor." Meanwhile, the economic outlook component score of +26 is the result of 59% saying the economy is "getting better" and 33% saying it is "getting worse."