Consumer confidence climbs to second-highest since 2007

Washington

CONSUMER confidence increased in March to the second-highest level since August 2007 as Americans grew more upbeat about the outlook for the labour market and incomes.

The Conference Board's index of sentiment climbed to 101.3 from 98.8 in the prior month that was stronger than initially reported, the New York-based private research group said on Tuesday. The median forecast in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for the gauge to hold at February's previously reported 96.4 reading.