Consumer confidence returns

A measure of U.S. consumer confidence recorded its biggest jump since April 2003. The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index shot up to 54.9 in May from 40.8 in April despite plunging home prices and raging unemployment.

The survey found fewer Americans, 44.7%, reporting that jobs were “hard to get” than in previous months. However, only 5.5% said they intended to buy a car and 2.3% planned to buy a home.