U.S. Economy: Consumer Comfort Increases for Third Week

Confidence among U.S. consumers rose for a third straight week, indicating an improving job market is shoring up Americans’ attitudes toward their finances and the economy.

The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index climbed to minus 43 in the period to April 10, the best showing since the end of February, following a minus 44.5 reading the prior week. Other reports today showed surging fuel costs pushed wholesale prices up last month and jobless claims unexpectedly climbed last week.