Consumer Confidence Higest Since Before Recession

The best consumer confidence reading since September 2008's financial meltdown and bullish earnings reports this week from companies ranging from Whirlpool to UPS show increasing demand and a rebound gathering steam. Americans are even feeling a bit better about the job market. The Consumer Confidence Index rose in April to 57.9, according to The Conference Board, a private research group based in New York. That's up from a revised 52.3 in March. Economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters expected 53.5. The April reading is the highest since September 2008's 61.4, before the index headed into freefall following the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers and ensuing cascade of financial collapse. Still, the reading is well below the 90 that's considered healthy.