The Conference Board’s index of U.S. consumer confidence increased to 81.5 in August from 81 the prior month, data from the New York-based private research group showed today. The median forecast in a Bloomberg survey called for a reading of 79. Estimates of the 75 economists ranged from 74.3 to 82. Another report today showed home prices increased at a slower pace in June. The S&P/Case-Shiller index of property values climbed 12.1 percent from the same month in 2012 after rising 12.2 percent in the year ended in May, the biggest gain since March 2006. To contact the reporter on this story: Lorraine Woellert in ... (full story)