The numbers: The construction industry’s outlook improved again in August after recent record lows, according to research from a trade group released Monday.
The National Association of Home Builders’s monthly confidence index rose 6 points to a reading of 78 in August, the trade group said Monday. The data, usually released at 10 a.m. Eastern, was posted early on the NAHB website.
The index reading in August was the highest on record in the 35-year history of the data series,
Index readings over 50 are a sign of improving confidence. The index had fallen below 50 in April and May.

What happened: The three main indicators that guide the overall index all increased this month.
The index that measures sentiment regarding prospective buyer traffic soared eight points to a record high of 65. The index of expectations for future sales over the next six months rose three points to 78, and the gauge of current single-family home sales jumped six points to 84.