U.S. consumer confidence up in March

NEW YORK, March 28 (UPI) -- U.S. consumer confidence rose this month to a near 4-year high, a private group said Tuesday.

The New York-based Conference Board said its Consumer Confidence Index, which had declined last month, increased in March to 107.2 from 102.7 in February.

"The improvement in consumers' assessment of present-day conditions is yet another sign that the economy gained steam in early 2006," said the board's Lynn Franco. "Consumer expectations, while improved, remain subdued and still suggest a cooling in activity in the latter half of this year."

The board's survey is based on a representative sample of 5,000 U.S. households.