More Americans believe the economy is improving than at any time in eight years as the job market picked up, Bloomberg reported.

The share of households viewing the economy as heading in the right direction rose to 34 percent in March, the most since January 2004.

The Bloomberg Comfort Index was minus 34.9 in the period ended March 18, down from a four-year high of minus 33.7 over the previous seven days.

The index ranges from 100, indicating all participants surveyed were confident in every index component, to negative 100, indicating all views were negative.

The weekly comfort index has been higher than minus 40 for the past six weeks, the longest stretch since the first half of 2008. Readings below minus 40 indicate a recession.

“The sense that things have finally stabilized has clearly boosted confidence,” siad Joseph Brusuelas, senior economist at Bloomberg LP, in an interview with Bloomberg’s website.