Americans Less Upbeat as Job Gains Hard to Sustain: Economy

American households curbed their enthusiasm in February on expectations the recent surge in hiring will be difficult to sustain.

The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index decreased to 96.4 from a revised January reading of 103.8 that was the highest since August 2007, the New York-based private research group said Tuesday. This month’s drop was led by diminished optimism about prospects for employment and income.