Washington ? Consumer confidence nudged up, shoppers opened their pocketbooks wider and sales of previously owned homes jumped, suggesting that the nation’s economic recovery remains on track.

The Conference Board reported Tuesday that its Consumer Confidence Index rose to 109.8 in May, up from a revised 108.5 in April. But consumers’ outlook for the rest of the year worsened.

Another report released by the Commerce Department showed that consumers increased their spending by 0.5 percent in April, on top of a 0.3 percent advance the month before.

But on Wall Street, stocks sagged as investors were hoping for stronger showings on consumer confidence and spending. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 122.68 points and the Nasdaq index was off 9.32 points in Tuesday trading.

Although Tuesday’s confidence and spending figures were weaker than many analysts were expecting, economists said they still were encouraged that consumers will continue to spend in the months ahead although probably at a modest pace and help along the recovery.

In a third report, sales of existing homes shot up to a rate of 5.79 million in April, a 7 percent increase over March’s level, according to the National Association of Realtors. April’s performance marked the third highest monthly sales pace on record.

“It looks like consumers will keep the recovery on track,” said Richard Yamarone, economist with Argus Research Corp. “Consumers didn’t toss in the towel during the recession, and we don’t see any reason for them to do so now.”

Consumers, whose spending accounts for two-thirds of all economic activity in the United States, especially splurged last month on big-ticket items, such as cars. Low interest rates and discounts on a range of costly manufactured goods continue to motivate buyers.

Americans’ incomes including wages, interest and government benefits, went up 0.3 percent in April, matching analysts’ expectations. In March, incomes grew by 0.4 percent.