A measure of consumer confidence remains at its highest level in 17 months on mostly upbeat assessments of business and labor conditions.

The Conference Board reported its Consumer Confidence Index rose two-tenths of a point to 129.1 in July. With gains in each of the last six months, the index has climbed to its highest level since it stood at 132.6 in February 2020.

Lynn Franco, senior director of economic indicators at the Conference Board, said the index suggests growth in the third quarter is off to a strong start. “Consumers’ optimism about the short-term outlook didn’t waver, and they continued to expect that business conditions, jobs and personal financial prospects will improve.”

A larger proportion of consumers reported plans to purchase homes, automobiles and major appliances in coming months, Franco said.

The business research and membership group bases the index on the results of monthly household surveys. Consumer spending accounts for more than two-thirds of economic activity.

Assessments of current conditions pushed the present situation component of the index up seven-tenths of a point to 160.3.

The proportion of consumers responding to the survey upon which the July index was based who described business conditions as “good” rose 1.2 points to 26.4 percent. The share of those who characterized conditions as “bad” edged up two-tenths of a point to 19.3 percent.

The proportion of consumers who called jobs “plentiful” rose two-tenths of a point to 54.9 percent. The share of those jobs are “hard to get” remained unchanged at 10.5 percent.

The expectations component of the index slipped a tenth of a point to 108.4.

The share of consumers who said they expect business conditions to improve over the next six months retreated three-tenths of a point to 33.4 percent. The share of those anticipating worsening conditions also decreased three-tenths of a point — to 10.5 percent.

The share of those who expect more jobs to become available in coming months rose 1.1 points to 27.7 percent. The proportion of those expecting fewer jobs also rose 1.1 points — to 16.8 percent.

Asked about their expectations for income, 20.6 percent of those who responded said they anticipated increases in the next six months — up six-tenths of a point. Meanwhile, 8.6 percent said they expected decreasing income, up two-tenth of a point.