The Consumer Confidence Index rose 5.6 points to 57.9 in April reaching its highest level since September 2008 when this country began its slide into the recession.
Consumer spending has turned up despite low confidence. Healthy gains in spending increased overall retail sales to an 11.03 percent annual rate during the first quarter, with spending rising for motor vehicles and a broad assortment of spending categories.
Long term unemployment also remains at heights unseen for decades. The Consumer Confidence Index will not regain the highs seen prior to the recession until hiring picks up enough to boost consumers’ perception about the availability of jobs.

Even here in Alexandria, it appears that attitudes and the confidence are steadily getting better.

Source: Consumer Confidence Board and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC