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High expectations that Utah's economy will improve over the next six months led to an 8.8-point jump in March in the Zions Bank Utah Consumer Attitude Index.

The sizable increase from February left the index at 123.5, 8.1 points higher than a year earlier. Utah's numbers are sightly below the national Consumer Confidence Index, which rose 9.5 points month-to-month to 125.6.

"Consumer attitudes in Utah have reached an all-time high," said Zions Bank President and CEO Scott Anderson. "Low unemployment coupled with expectations for even more jobs in the coming months contribute to an overall positive cycle that Utahns can benefit from for the foreseeable future."

Wasatch Front residents' confidence in current conditions went up 5.6 point since February but remain even with where they were a year ago, Anderson noted.

Expectations for the fall are much higher — by 10.9 points — with increasing numbers of people thinking their incomes will be higher, jobs will be more plentiful and business conditions will be improved.

Survey respondents also feel better about the performance of the federal government, with positive perceptions rising 7 points over the past month to 26 percent, while confidence in state government slipped from 48 percent to 44 percent.

Still, said Randy Shumway, chairman of the polling Cicero Group, February was the first in a long time in which future expectations mirrored current feelings. "High expectations propel the economy and give Utahns even more reason to get out and invest in their next project," he added.