WASHINGTON (AFP) – US consumers showed growing confidence in the state of the US economy this month, shrugging off investors' concerns about global recovery.

Consumer confidence improved for the third straight month in May, according to a survey released by the Conference Board Tuesday, as Americans saw a rosier outlook for jobs and businesses.

The poll asks 5,000 US households a series of questions about their level of confidence in the economy. The results produce an index were 100 points would signify total confidence and zero represents absolute pessimism.

The research firm's consumer confidence index for May stood at 63.3 points, up from a revised 57.7 percent last month.

"The improvement has been fueled primarily by growing optimism about business and labor market conditions. Income expectations, however, remain downbeat," said Lynn Franco, the head of the board's consumer research department.

The survey was conducted up to May 18, a period which saw investors' concerns about Europe's debt crisis spike.