Consumer Comfort Index in U.S. Climbs for Fourth Straight Week

Consumer confidence rose for a fourth consecutive week as Americans became less pessimistic about the state of economy and their personal finances.

The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index climbed to minus 42.6 in the period to April 17, the best reading since the end of February, from minus 43 the prior week. A measure of expectations fell to the lowest level since September, a sign rising fuel costs are causing families to think the economy will take a turn for the worse in coming months.