Confidence among U.S. consumers rose for a fifth week, reaching the highest level this year as improving stock and home prices gave households a lift.
The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index improved to minus 32.4 in the week ended March 3 from minus 32.8 in the prior period. The share of Americans with a positive view of the U.S. economy held at its highest level since early 2008 and more people said it was a good time to buy needed goods and services. [cont.]
Jeanna Smialek, Bloomberg