An improving job market has driven US consumer confidence higher. The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index rose to 101.3 in March from a revised 98.8 reading in February. The business group takes into account expectations for the future and consumers’ assessment of current conditions. Consumers were more optimistic about the future, but a little less impressed with current economic conditions. Over the past year, employers have added nearly 3.3 million jobs, the fastest 12 mo