"The Conference Board's consumer confidence index reached its highest level in eight months in May, the organization reported today. The index now stands at 54.9 (1985=100), up from 40.8 in April."
 
"Looking ahead, consumers are considerably less pessimistic than they were earlier this year, and expectations are that business conditions, the labor market and incomes will improve in the coming months," said Lynn Franco, director of The Conference Board consumer research center. "While confidence is still weak by historical standards, as far as consumers are concerned, the worst is now behind us."
 
And finally,

According to IWD's latest numbers, the Des Moines MSA saw 2,000 people hired. That is the single biggest increase all year. To this point, we have either been losing jobs or stagnant. This is great news for our state. The Des Moines MSA unemployment now stand at 4.6%.  That was 3.5% a year ago and fluctuating month to month from between 3.5%-4.0%.
 
While I cannot guarantee this is the true beginning of the turnaround, and that there may be some one time abnormalities that caused these latest hiring events. I am nonetheless very encouraged and looking forward to seeing this trend hold.