Confidence Index Declines In April

Consumer confidence slipped in April for the third consecutive month as the stock market staged a sharp retreat, but Americans remain confident that business growth and job opportunities will remain strong in coming months, the Conference Board reported Tuesday.

The board’s Consumer Confidence Index dropped to 136.9 in April from a revised 137.1 the month before. That was down sharply from the record 144.7 registered in January and the lowest reading since 130.5 last October, the business-supported study group said. The index compares results to its base year, 1985, when it stood at 100.