Americans remain confident in April
ASSOCIATED PRESS April 24, 2012 9:18AM
Updated: April 24, 2012 1:32PM
NEW YORK — Americans’ confidence in the economy held steady in April from the previous month despite rising gas prices and falling home values, says a private research group.
The Conference Board says its Consumer Confidence Index now stands at 69.2, down slightly from a revised 69.5 in March. Economists were expecting a reading of 70, according to a FactSet poll of analysts. The current level is below February’s 71.6, which is the highest level it’s been in a year.
Consumer confidence is widely watched because consumer spending accounts for 70 percent of economic activity. The measure is significantly below the 90 reading that indicates a healthy economy. But the current level is above the 40 it hit last October.
