US consumer confidence hits 14-month high, house prices soar

An upbeat survey released Tuesday by the Conference Board suggests the US economy is continuing to power ahead early in the second quarter as the pace of COVID-19 vaccinations accelerates.

United States consumer confidence jumped to a 14-month high in April as increased vaccinations against COVID-19 and additional fiscal stimulus allowed for more businesses to reopen, boosting demand and hiring by companies. An upbeat survey released Tuesday by the Conference Board suggests the economy is continuing to power ahead early in the second quarter as the pace of COVID-19 vaccinations accelerates. The survey shows the economy continued to surge after what appears to have been robust growth in the first three months of the year, believed by many economists to have been the second strongest since 2003. Growth this year is expected to be the best in nearly four decades. The survey also shows a strong increase in vacation planning by Americans.