Consumer confidence improved in April to the second-highest level in more than eight years as Americans held more favorable views of the economic outlook and inflation. The University of Michigan said Friday that its preliminary index of sentiment climbed to 95.9 this month from 93 in March. The median projection in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for an increase to 94. Consumers were more upbeat about the economy, their current financial situations and the buying climate, indicating spending will pick up after a lackluster perform (full story)