Reversing some of the pessimism seen the month before, U.S. consumer confidence rebounded in March.
The Conference Board said its consumer confidence index rose to 52.5 points in March, from a revised figure of 46.4 in February.
In the poll of 5,000 U.S. households, 100 points would signify absolute confidence, while zero represents absolute pessimism.
Consumer spending drives about two-thirds of U.S. economic activity and is considered a key factor in achieving a sustainable recovery from the worst recession in decades.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2010