NEW YORK, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- U.S. consumer confidence increased slightly in November while people's appraisal of current economic situation remains at 26-year low, according to a survey result released here on Tuesday.

    Conference Board, New York-based private research group, said its Consumer Confidence Index rose to 49.5 in November from 48.7 in October. A reading of 100 and above signals strong growth in the economy.

    The Present Situation Index, a measure of how consumers look at current economic conditions, was virtually unchanged at 21.0 versus 21.1 last month. It is the lowest level since February 1983when the reading dropped to 17.5. The Expectations Index, consumers' short-term outlook, increased to 68.5 from 67.0 in October.

    Lynn Franco, director of The Conference Board Consumer Research Center, said the moderate improvement was "the result of a decrease in the percent of consumers expecting business and labor market conditions to worsen, as opposed to an increase in the percent of consumers expecting conditions to improve."

    The percentage of consumers expecting an improvement in business conditions over the next six months decreased slightly to20.0 percent from 20.8 percent, but those expecting conditions to worsen decreased to 15.1 percent from 18.2 percent.

    "Income expectations remain very pessimistic and consumers are entering the holiday season in a very frugal mood," Franco said.