Sale signs were all around at this Home Depot store in Danvers, Mass., on Monday. Lisa Poole/AP
By Mark Memmott
After two straight gains, consumer confidence declined a bit this month, the private research group the Conference Board says.
Its widely watched consumer confidence index slipped to 49.3, from 54.8 in May.
Lynn Franco, director of the board's Consumer Research Center, says the indicator is pointing to "less-negative conditions in the months ahead, as opposed to strong growth."
Translation: It could be another signal that the worst is over for the economy -- but also that things aren't going to be great anytime soon.
Economists watch the index because consumers account for about two-thirds of all spending on goods and services. So when they're happy, demand is usually pretty good.
categories: Business, National News
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