WASHINGTON, March 31 (Reuters) - U.S. consumer confidence unexpectedly edged up in March, but households remained downbeat on the labor market and anticipated higher inflation over the next 12 months ...

Like most people, Nancy James relies on her cell phone. The semi-retired music teacher — who still gives private lessons and is the music director at two churches — is also careful with her spending.

Consumer confidence slid in March as the Iran war and rising gas prices weighed on Americans' views of the U.S. economy. The University of Michigan's preliminary March sentiment index, released Friday ...