The consumer confidence index grew to 101.3 in March from a revised 98.8 last month, The Conference Board reported Tuesday.
The February index was originally reported as 96.4.
Economists polled by Thomson Reuters predicted a 96.0 reading for the index.
The present situation index dipped to 109.1 from a revised 112.1, first reported as 110.2, while the expectations index rose to 96.0 from a revised 90.0, first reported as 87.2.
"Consumer confidence improved in March after retreating in February," said Lynn Franco, director of The Conference Board's Consumer Research Center. "This month's increase was driven by an improved short-term outlook for both employment and income prospects; consumers were less upbeat about business conditions. Consumers' assessment of current conditions declined for the second consecutive month, suggesting that growth may have softened in Q1, and doesn't appear to be gaining any significant momentum heading into the spring months."
Business conditions were called "good" by 26.7% of respondents in March, unchanged from 26.7% in February. Those saying conditions are "bad" grew to 19.4% from 16.7%.
The percentage of consumers expecting a pickup in business conditions in the next half year declined to 16.7% from 17.6%, while 8.0% said they expect conditions to worsen, down from 8.9% in the prior month.
On the jobs front, those who believe jobs are "plentiful" climbed to 20.6% in March from 20.3% in February, while the number saying jobs are "hard to get" rose to 25.4% from 25.1%. The respondents who see fewer jobs becoming available in a half year, decreased to 13.5% from 14.8%. Those expecting more jobs to become available rose to 15.5% from 13.8%, The Conference Board reported.
The consumer confidence survey is based on a probability design random sample by the Nielsen Company.
