NEW YORK -- Consumer confidence as measured by the Conference Board's index rose to 65.9 in July from 62.7 in June, the first increase in five months. Economists had forecast a reading of 62.
A reading of 90 indicates a healthy economy. It hasn't been near that level since the Great Recession began in December, 2007.
The index fell to an all-time low of 25.3 in February 2009 -- four months before the recession officially ended.