At 97.2, July's preliminary index (through July 20) is up 2.0 points from June's 95.2 final tally and 4.2 points higher than the June level initially reported by the Board.

"All three components of the Expectation Index improved, with consumers feeling less pessimistic about future business conditions and employment, and more optimistic about future income," Conference Board Senior Economist Stephanie Guichard said in a press release announcing the results. "Meanwhile, consumers' assessment of the present situation was little changed," Guichard reported.

At 74.4, the Expectations Index component increased 4.5 points from June, with consumers expressing greater optimism for the next six months:

Business conditions will improve: 18.4% of consumers, up from 17.1%.
More jobs will be available: 17.5%, up from 15.9%.
Personal incomes will increase: 18.2%, up from 17.6%.

Looking ahead 12 months:

Fewer expect inflation: 5.8%, down from both 5.9% in June and a peak of 7.0% in April.
Fewer expect interest rates to rise (53.0%, down from 57.1%) and more expect rates to fall (21.2%, up from 18.4% in June).
More expect stock prices to rise from April's 16-month low (47.9%, up from 37.6% three months earlier).

"July's modest gain in confidence was driven by consumers over 35 years old and shared across all income groups except those earning the least (with household annual income below $15K)," the Conference Board noted.

While the issue of tariffs ranked high on the list of topics consumers were focused on in July, the reconciliation legislation (Republicans' "Big, Beautiful Bill") recently signed into law did not. Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Why Hobby Lobby Founder David Green Gave Up $22 Million in Halloween Sales

One of America's Largest Industries Is in Danger, New Documentary Warns (Video)

These Major Banks Targeted Christians, Trump Supporters

School District Ordered to Apologize, Pay $275k for Forcing Kids to Hide Bibles

Four Killed, Dozens Seriously injured in 'Violent, Fast-moving Fire' after Explosion at Military Base in Alberta, Canada

Netanyahu Stresses Goal of Toppling Iran Regime after 'Extraordinary' Endorsement from Trump; CENTCOM's Update on Hormuz

Report: Marseille Rioters Burned Jewish-Owned Shops, Left Muslim-Owned Ones Untouched (Videos)

'French Intifada': Mayor of Nice Calls for Terror Investigation into 'Islamo-Leftist' Riots, Ban on Antifa Groups

Egyptian Farmer's Find Reveals Giant Statue of Pharaoh Linked to Biblical Exodus

Elon Musk Wows the World: Unveils Flying Tesla Roadster at SpaceX Texas Site

Illegal Alien Busted Allegedly Hauling Enough Fentanyl To Potentially Kill State's Entire Population—Twice

Trump's Fraud Task Force Recovers Nearly $6 Billion While Targeting Medicare/Medicaid Duplicate Coverage

Now More Than Ever, the Survival of the Constitution Is on the Ballot

Turnout Surge among GOP Seniors Could Be Midterm's Biggest Surprise

Fact Check: Breaking Down Talarico's Claims at CNN Town Hall

Prayer Alert: Deadly Oregon Elementary School Shooting Could've Been Worse, But For Heroic Armed Bystander Who Stopped Teen Gunman

'I Still Can't Believe What God Did!' 550 Baptized in Freezing Waters of England

Christian Mom Fights Homeschool Battle: 'Government Cannot Exclude Religious People' (Video)

Facts Don't Lie: Republicans Dominate 5 Financially Healthiest State Governments, Democrats Run the 5 Worst

Social Security to Grant 3.6% Cost-of-Living Boost