Consumers were more confident in March, but had little expectation that their personal finances would improve any time soon, Reuters reported.

The Reuters/University of Michigan Survey of Consumers said its final index of confidence rose to 57.3 in March from 56.3 in February. This was a touch above economists’ median expectation of a 56.6 reading, according to a Reuters poll.

The survey hit a record low of 51.7 in May 1980.

The index of consumer expectations edged up to 53.5 from 50.5. Survey director Richard Curtin said confidence in the Obama administration’s economic policies improved consumers’ mood, with 22 percent of those surveyed favoring the policies, compared with 7 percent in January.

Americans’ view of their current conditions, however, remained dim, with the index of economic conditions slipping to 63.3 in March from 65.5 in February.

Though 44 percent of consumers expected government policy to improve their personal finances, the survey showed, a record number of consumers said incomes had declined compared with a year ago.

“Although the data indicate that the downward momentum in confidence ended in the closing months of 2008, there is no evidence that consumers expect their finances to improve any time soon,” Curtin said.