IMGCAP(1)]
The Consumer Confidence Index improved slightly in August, The Conference Board announced today. The August index stands at 56.9, up from 51.9 the previous month. July marked the first time in 2008 the index increased. One-third, 33.2%, of consumers surveyed this month claimed business conditions are "bad," up slightly from 32.6% in July. Consumers who said business conditions are "good" increased to 13.4% from 13.2% last month. Consumers' appraisal of the labor market has turned more bleak, with 32% saying jobs are "hard to get," an increase from 30.2% in July. Consumers who claimed jobs are "plentiful" declined to 13.1% in August from 13.6%. Research company TNS conducts the Consumer Confidence survey of 5,000 randomly selected U.S. households.
