NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Consumer confidence has shown little improvement since leveling off after a turbulent wartime cycle.

The ABC News/Money magazine Consumer Comfort Index, based on public views of current economic conditions, stood at -18 last week, on its scale of +100 to -100. It's been stuck within the same narrow band for seven weeks, hovering between -17 and -21 since May 25.

Respondents expressed more confidence about economic recovery last week as 30 percent rate the economy as excellent or good, up from 27 percent the preceding week. The best level in this category was set at 80 percent in January 2000.

Fifty-six percent rate their own finances as excellent or good, unchanged from the previous week. Confidence in this category peaked at 70 percent in August 1998.

The poll's buying gauge, which measures consumers' willingness to spend, also remained unchanged. Thirty-seven percent say it's an excellent or good time to buy things they want or need, which is significantly lower than the 57 percent high set in January 2000.

Confidence, as expected, is higher among better-off Americans. The index is +10 in higher-income households compared with -58 in the lowest.

The ABC News/Money magazine Consumer Comfort Index represents a rolling average based on telephone interviews with a random sample of about 1,000 adults nationwide each month. This week's results are based on 1,004 interviews in the week ended July 6, 2003, and have an error margin of plus or minus three percentage points.