Manufacturing Index and Consumer Confidence Increase

This recession is not only over, but the upturn is picking up its pace.

Measures of U.S. manufacturing and consumer confidence jumped to their highest levels since the credit crisis intensified in September.

The Institute for Supply Management’s factory index rose to 40.1 from 36.3 in March; readings less than 50 signal a contraction. The Reuters/University of Michigan final index of consumer sentiment jumped by the most in more than two years, climbing to 65.1