Consumer confidence reaches two-year high

Consumer confidence, which barely budged in May, jumped higher than anticipated in June, buoyed by an improved job outlook, the New York-based Conference Board reported Tuesday.

The Consumer Confidence Index increased nearly 9 points to 101.9, up from the revised 93.1 in May. The latest reading was much better than the 95 that analysts had expected.

Lynn Franco, director of The Conference Board’s Consumer Research Center, said the strong improvement in current conditions had propelled consumer confidence to levels not seen since June 2002, when the indicator was 106.3.

“Looking ahead, consumers expect the economy to continue to grow at a healthy clip and to continue to generate additional jobs,” Franco said.

Manufacturing

Hallmark to transfer IT jobs in Kansas City

Dallas-based ACS announced Tuesday that it would build a new information technology support services center in Kansas City, Mo., after it reached a $230 million deal to provide support services to Hallmark Cards.

Kansas City, Mo.-based Hallmark said 145 employees in its information technology department would be asked to become employees of ACS.

Hallmark, which has a production plant in Lawrence, said the new contract would improve the company’s technical capabilities and access to new technologies.

ACS officials said they planned to use the Kansas City facility for other clients, although the company didn’t release estimates of how large it expected the center to grow.

Bankruptcy

Farmland to mail checks

Individuals and businesses owed money by bankrupt Farmland Industries soon should begin receiving checks in the mail, the trustee for the former agricultural cooperative said Tuesday.

JP Morgan Trust Co. will begin mailing checks totaling more than $421 million to creditors today. How much each type of creditor will receive varies, the company said. Some creditors will receive 100 percent of their claims against the company, while unsecured creditors will receive an amount equal to 65 percent of their total claims, although future disbursements are possible.