NEW YORK–Americans became more optimistic in the economy amid declining gas prices in August, marking the biggest jump in two years. The Conference Board, a private research group, said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index rose to 56.9, up fro
NEW YORK–Americans became more optimistic in the economy amid declining gas prices in August, marking the biggest jump in two years.
The Conference Board, a private research group, said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index rose to 56.9, up from a revised 51.9 in July. That’s the largest gain since August 2006 and is ahead of the 53 expected by economists surveyed by Thomson/IFR.
It’s also the second month in a row that sentiment improved, after a six-month slide since January—but it remains about half what it was a year ago.
The Conference Board’s Present Situation Index, which measures shoppers’ current assessment of the economy, declined to 63.2 from 65.8 in July. But the Expectations Index, which measures their outlook over the next six months, jumped to 52.8 from 42.7 in July.
“Consumer confidence readings suggest that the economy remains stuck in neutral but may be showing signs of improvement by early next year,” Lynn Franco, director of The Conference Board Consumer Research Center, said in a statement.
Falling gas prices helped boost consumers’ gloomy mood, she said.
Franco added that declines in the Present Situation Index, both in term of business conditions and the labor market, appear to be moderating. She noted that an improvement in consumers’ expectations suggest better times ahead.
AP
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