The Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) rebounded from its lowest level in more than five years last month, up by 0.55 points to 67.67, according to a report released by the Research Center for Taiwan Economic Development at National Central University.
Of six sub-indexes used to gauge public sentiment, stock performance showed the biggest improvement, up by 2.2 points to 73.2, as respondents considered the next six months a good time to invest in the stock market, the report said.
Consumer price fluctuations, economic outlook over the next six months, the job market outlook and household finances were all up, while purchasing of durable goods for the next six months was the only factor to decline, down by 0.7 point to 112.85, the report said.
A CCI figure of less than 100 points indicates public pessimism about the outlook for the next six months, while a score of between 100 and 200 points demonstrates optimism, the center said.
Meanwhile, the Council for Economic Planning and Development said the economy showed signs of growth with the index of leading indicators for last month standing at 109.4 points, up 0.9 percent from February.
The index registered a revised 0.2 percent month-on-month decrease in February, the council said.
The index is used as a gauge for the economy's direction in the coming three months.
Last month's index of coincident indicators, which coincides with the current pace of economic activity, rose 1.1 percent month-on-month to 110.2 points, after posting a revised 0.2 percent decrease in February, the council said.
Both indices for leading and coincident indicators are based on a 2001 benchmark of 100.
The total score of monitoring indicators for last month was 23 points, compared with 19 points in February.
Last month's indicators showed a "green light" -- the first in nine months -- signaling steady growth.
The council uses a five-level spectrum to gauge economic health: Blue indicates recession, yellow-blue a slowdown, green steady growth, yellow-red a slight overheating and red an absolute overheating.
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