Consumer attitudes towards the economy have improved slightly over the last month, according to the latest IIB/ESRI index.
Confidence has risen from 78 to 83 since March, due mainly to increased job optimism.
People are also more optimistic about their household spending power, probably because of the SSIA accounts maturing and pre-election promises of tax cuts.
However the underlying trend in consumer index remains weak, with the average over the last three months falling to its lowest since January 2004.