Consumer confidence soars

NEW YORK (AP) " Even with unemployment still rising and home prices still slumping, Americans are getting their confidence back in the economy.

A widely watched barometer of confidence unexpectedly rose to the highest level since September, buoyed by an unexpected surge in the stock market, hopes that the job market might turn around and the belief that the worst of the recession is behind us.

But don't expect shoppers to buy expensive jeans and fancy furniture anytime soon.

"Consumers are not likely to spend just because they think things will get better," said Mark Vitner, senior economist at Wachovia. "They will actually have to see them get better."

As a testament to the economy's challenges, a closely monitored housing index also released Tuesday showed home prices fell at the sharpest rate ever in the first quarter, though the drop-off was worse at the beginning of the quarter.

Meanwhile, Americans are grappling with an unemployment rate that's expected to climb to 9.2 percent in May, up from 8.9 percent, as companies lay off more workers.

That has helped push shoppers to keep shopping at discount stores and cutting back on nonessentials.

Cheri Radke, 52, of Waukesha, Wis., says she buys more food, makeup and other necessities at Wal-Mart and shops sales at Target. Radke works in a bank and has been scared by seeing people cash more unemployment checks, so she's trying to be frugal.

"More on a need basis, less than a want," she said of her shopping habits. "I'm trying to be more cost-conscious."

Still, the Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index's 14.1-point surge to 54.9, following another big gain in April, is encouraging. Economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters were expecting 42.3. In February, confidence levels had hit a new historic low of 25.3.

May's confidence level is the highest since eight months ago, when it was 61.4. The levels are also closer to last May's 58.1, though the widely watched barometer is still far from healthy. A reading above 90 means the economy is on solid footing. Above 100 signals strong growth.

The consumer confidence is determined by a mail survey of a representative sample of 5,000 U.S. households from May 1 to May 19.

Much of the improvement in confidence came from the Expectations Index, which measures shoppers' outlook over the next six months. That barometer climbed to 72.3 from 51.0 in April. Consumers' assessment in the present situation, however, was still weak, rising to 28.9 from 25.5 last month.

It also showed that shoppers were less pessimistic about the job market, even though it remains grim.

The confidence report offered encouraging news to merchants, after confidence plummeted to historic lows late last year.