NEW YORK (AP) -- Americans felt better about the economy in August, as a widely watched barometer of sentiment posted the biggest boost in two years amid falling gas prices. Meanwhile, two reports suggested that the worst may be over for the slumping housing market.The Conference Board, a private research group, said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index rose to 56.9, up from a revised 51.9 in July. That's the largest gain since August 2006, and is ahead of the 53 expected by economists surveyed by Thomson/IFR.
It's also the second month in a row that sentiment improved, after a six-month slide since January -- but it remains about half what it was a year ago.
"Consumer confidence readings suggest that the economy remains stuck in neutral, but may be showing signs of improvement by early next year," Lynn Franco, director of The Conference Board Consumer Research Center, said in a statement.
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