The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index for the US rose in September to a reading of 103.0 (1985=100), up from a reading of 101.3 in August, The Conference Board announced today.

“Consumer confidence increased moderately in September, following August’s sharp rebound,” said Lynn Franco, director of economic indicators at The Conference Board. “Consumers’ more positive assessment of current conditions fueled this month’s increase, and drove the Present Situation Index to an 8-year high [of 121.1] (September 2007, Index=121.2). Consumers’ expectations for the short-term outlook, however, remained relatively flat, although there was a modest improvement in income expectations. Thus, while consumers view current economic conditions more favorably, they do not foresee growth accelerating in the months ahead.”

Consumers’ outlook for the labor market was mixed. Those stating jobs are “plentiful” increased to 25.1% from 22.1% who said the same in August; however, those claiming jobs are “hard to get” also rose to 24.3% from 21.7%. Those anticipating more jobs in the months ahead was virtually unchanged at 15.0%, while those anticipating fewer jobs increased to 15.8% from 14.5%.