The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which had improved in March, further improved in April, bringing it to its highest level since May 2002. The index now stands at 109.6, up from 107.5 in March. Consumers’ overall assessment of current conditions remains favorable, with those claiming conditions are “good” rising from 27.9 percent to 29.7 percent. The index for those claiming conditions are “bad” also rose, to 15.1 percent from 14.7 percent. Consumers’ perceptions of labor market conditions, which had had mixed ratings, improved. Respondents saying jobs are “plentiful” increased to 29.1 percent from 28.3 percent, and those claiming jobs are “hard to get” dropped from 20.4 percent to 19.6 percent.

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