The New York based Conference Board said its consumer confidence index rose to 54.1 from a 47.4 in July. The index is still well below the 90 that it needs to indicate a healthy economy, but it is heading in the right direction. Additionally, consumer expectations for the economy over the next six months rose to 75.3 from 63.4 in July marking its highest level since December 2007, when the recession started, reports Sara Lepro for the Associated Press.
Overall, all three major U.S. indexes were up with the Dow Jones Industrial Average leading the way adding 0.6%, followed by the S&P 500 up nearly 0.5% and the Nasdaq gaining 0.5%.
For more stories on real estate, visit our real estate category.
Kevin Grewal contributed to this article.