Consumer Confidence Report c/o The Business Review After two...

Consumer Confidence Report c/o The Business Review

After two months of declining consumer confidence, a new survey from the Conference Board shows consumers’ views of the economy and expectations for the future improved in August.

The New York research firm, which has been tracking consumer confidence for more than four decades, said Tuesday its monthly index grew to 54.1 from 47.4 in July. Views on current economic conditions improved slightly, but the outlook on the next six months registered a comparably large gain to reach its highest level since December 2007, the Conference Board said.

“Consumer confidence, which had posted back-to-back monthly declines, appears to be back on the mend,” Lynn Franco, director of the Conference Board’s consumer research center, said.

News of improving consumer confidence wasn’t the only positive economic indicator released Tuesday. The S&P/Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index showed a 3 percent gain in average home prices, the first quarter-to-quarter increase in three years despite lagging last year’s levels by 15 percent.