The U.S. Conference Board today said that its index of consumer confidence rose unexpectedly to 92.9 this month from a revised 88.5 in March, helped by a growing feeling that the job picture is improving.

Economists had forecast the index to ease to 88.0.

“The job market, which has a major impact on confidence, appears to be gaining strength,” said Lynn Franco, director of research at the company’s Consumer Research Center.

“The percentage of consumers claiming jobs are hard to get is now at its lowest level since November 2002, and more consumers expect this trend to continue.”

The number of consumers saying jobs were hard to get fell in April to 27.6% from March’s revised 29.9%.

Consumers’ view of the future improved, moving the expectations index to 94.5 from a revised 91.3, while the present situation index climbed to 90.6 from a revised 84.4 in March.

Meanwhile, existing home sales in the U.S. jumped a better-than-expected 5.7% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.48 million units in March from a upwardly revised 6.13 million unit rate in February, the National Association of Realtors said.

March was the fastest clip of existing home sales since September’s 6.68 million level.

Analysts had been expecting a 6.20 million annual sales pace.

Resales surged ahead as home buyers rushed to take advantage of low mortgage rates.