The U.S. manufacturing sector entered the new year with the wind at its back, finishing 2016 with its strongest growth in two years.

The Institute for Supply Management on Tuesday said its purchasing managers index rose to 54.7 in December from 53.2 in November, beating economists’ expectations for a more modest rise and hitting its highest level since December 2014. A reading over 50 indicates expansion in the manufacturing sector; the gauge has signaled growth in nine of the past 10 months.

Factory activity strengthened in late 2016 as gauges of U.S. consumer confidence surged following the Nov. 8 presidential election.

”This is a reflection of consumer activity, and I think people are just feeling better for whatever reason about the economy,” said Bradley Holcomb, who oversees the ISM survey. “We can all just hope that that continues.”

The details of Tuesday’s report were upbeat. The new-orders index surged to 60.2 in December from 53.0 the prior month, and the production index was up to 60.3 last month from 56.0 in November. The employment index increased to 53.1 last month from 52.3 the prior month.