Consumer confidence index falls in May (by Jeffry Bartash)

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - The Conference Board's consumer-confidence index fell in May as Americans grew slightly more pessimistic about future job prospects and business conditions. The nonprofit organization said its consumer confidence index fell to 60.8 in May from a revised 66.0 in April - the lowest reading in six months. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch had expected an increase to 67.5. The future-expectations index dropped to 75.2 from 83.2 last month, the lowest level since last October. The "present situation" index, however, barely edged down, to 39.3 in May from 40.2 in April. The Conference Board's index conflicts with another consumer survey by Reuters and the University of Michigan that showed an increase in May owing to a drop in gas prices.