LOS ANGELES — Confidence among homebuilders inched up this month, to the highest level in more than 6½ years, as they reported the best market for newly built homes since the housing boom.

The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo builder sentiment index, released Tuesday, rose 2 points to 47 from a revised 45 in November. That was the highest reading since April 2006, just before the housing bubble burst.