Gallup: Economic confidence level in April

Confidence in the U.S. economy leveled out in April, Gallup reported Tuesday, but remains at its highest point in years. 

Gallup’s economic confidence index averaged out at -20 last month — the same result as in March, but two points better than February and seven above the average score in January. 

According to the polling company, -20 is also the best monthly average since Gallup started daily tracking of its confidence index in early 2008.

But Gallup also said it remained to be seen whether the index continued increasing, after a string of recent economic reports have prompted concerns that the economic recovery is losing momentum. 

The Commerce Department announced Friday that the nation’s economy grew at a 2.2 percent clip in the first quarter, lower than had been expected. 

The economy also added 120,000 jobs in March, after adding in excess of 200,000 jobs for several months in a row. The April jobs report is due out Friday.

Gallup said that, while its index averaged out to the same score in March and April, confidence had fallen a bit in the last week of April. On the other hand, March had softer scores at the beginning of the month.

The polling company’s index combines the country’s views on both where the economy stands and whether or not it is getting better. In recent months, the index has found Americans more optimistic about where the economy is headed than current conditions. 

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