US consumer confidence jumps to January 2008 high
Good economic spirits returning in the US.
Consumer confidence has surged to 82.3, from 78.3 prior. Last month's figure was itself revised up, from 78.1.
Analysts had predicted a smaller rise, to just 78.6 this month.
Simultaneously housing data revealed that new home sales fell by 3.3 per cent in February, less than the 4.9 per cent drop anticipated by economists.
In March new home sales were seen at an annual rate of 440,000.
Data from the Richmond Fed's manufacturing index is decidedly uglier. The key indicator has fallen from -6 to -7 in March. Consensus forecasts suggesed we'd see a rise to -1.